Warming+Arctic+Can+Actually+Make+Our+Winters+Colder



__**A warming Arctic can actually make our winters colder**__ By Kendra Pierre-Louis September 25, 2017 []

In the winter of 2014-2015, Boston experienced bizarre levels of snow (they reached 108.6 inches of snow). Over the past years, there have been major fluctuations in the severity of the climate during winter; many living in the mid-northern altitudes experienced unusually cold winters dispersed throughout unusually warm winters. The reason for this weird phenomenon is due to the warming of the Arctic. The warming of the arctic causes a change in the polar vortex, a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding both of the Earth’s poles, in turn causing these winters. There were a series of tests done to prove this theory over the past 40 years; the scientists came to a conclusion that the polar vortex is in fact changing. The polar vortex keeps the cold air near the poles, but when the Arctic is being warmed, it weakens the winds that keep the cold air in the poles. The weakening of this circulation leads to cold air escaping further south; this is the reason why many regions have been experiencing these very unusually cold winters. This is a major example of climate change. as this phenomenon sends ripples of change throughout our climate.
 * Summary:**

The changing of the polar vortex and warming of the Arctic plays a major role in environmental science. The warming the Arctic directly affects climate change by weakening the polar vortex, and in turn causing these unpredictable and unusual winters. In chapter 7 of our APES textbook, it talks about how climate affects the living condition of all life on earth. This issue not only relates to our course, but it relates to each and everyone in the world in a major way.
 * Relevance to our Course:**

When the topic of climate change comes up in discussions or a question, many people immediately think of "Global Warming", due to all the buzz around it. Global warming is not the only thing that happens when climate change occurs. When I first heard about these unusually cold winters, I thought it was a beneficial effect, because of all of the media's focus on global warming; in fact, It is the complete opposite. The research I did subsequently really opened my eyes; after I learned that it was due to the weakening of the polar vortex, I first wondered why the media is not educating the public about this issue. We all should be working as a community to prevent any further damage to the Arctic; I think that the media is responsible for educating the public, so they should make this a hot-button topic.
 * My Opinion:**

//American Recovery and Reinvestment Act/2009// – The Bill authorizes a stimulus package that supports new and existing renewable energy and energy efficiency programmes. It allocated US$16.8 billion to energy efficiency and renewable energy programmes. It foresaw the extension of credit for electricity produced from renewable sources. This bill is giving major funding to the research of renewable resources. These renewable resources will eventually better the issue of warming.
 * Law:**