Drought in the US, storms over Europe: Could Arctic winds be to blame?
When Arctic sea ice dipped to a new record low earlier this year, scientists began to look harder than ever at the possible reasons why the northern ice cap has seen such marked declines. Now, a new study released Wednesday suggests that shifting wind patterns in the world's far north might be to blame -- and could also be wreaking havoc on weather systems in the U.S. and Europe.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which helped lead the study with researchers from institutions in New Jersey, Washington and the United Kingdom, winds that used to go west to east are now shifting to a north-south pattern. Additionally, that new pattern moves in peaks and valleys, helping deliver warmer air to the north and the Arctic's cooler air to the south.
