polar vortex
Frigid atmospheric whirl
A polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air circulating around the Earth's poles.
The term gained popular currency when weakening of the Arctic vortex allows frigid air to spill southward, bringing extreme cold snaps to normally temperate regions: The polar vortex is bringing subzero temperatures to the Midwest this week.
Violent prolonged snowstorm
- snowstormHeavy winter precipitation event
- ice stormFreezing rain accumulation
- frostThin ice coating
- freezing rainPrecipitation forming ice on surfaces
windchill · subzero · frostbite · hypothermia · flurries · black ice · snow squall · cold snap
High-altitude wind current
- stratosphereSecond atmospheric layer up
- troposphereLowest atmospheric layer
- circumpolarAround the pole
- pressure gradientSpatial variation in force
oscillation · isotherm · pressure system · wind shear · weather pattern
Earth's northern axis point
- Arctic CircleNorthern latitude marking perpetual daylight zone
- tundraFrigid treeless biome
- permafrostPerpetually frozen earth layer
- icecapPermanent polar covering
Svalbard · Greenland · Nunavut · arctic fox · aurora borealis · midnight sun · icebreaker · circumpolar
Severe cold from polar regions
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- weakeningBecoming less strong
- splitSeparation into parts
- displacementRemoval from usual location
wobble · destabilization · bomb cyclone · nor'easter · power outages
Rising planetary temperatures
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
- extreme weatherUnusual, dangerous atmospheric events
- climate patternsTypical atmospheric conditions over time
- greenhouse gasesEmissions that trap heat
blizzard
Violent prolonged snowstorm
freezing rain · windchill · subzero · frostbite · hypothermia · flurries · black ice · snow squall · cold snap · deep freeze
jet stream
High-altitude wind current
- stratosphereSecond atmospheric layer up
- troposphereLowest atmospheric layer
- circumpolarAround the pole
pressure gradient · oscillation · isotherm · pressure system · wind shear · weather pattern
North Pole
Earth's northern axis point
- Arctic CircleNorthern latitude marking perpetual daylight zone
- tundraFrigid treeless biome
- permafrostPerpetually frozen earth layer
icecap · Svalbard · Greenland · Nunavut · arctic fox · aurora borealis · midnight sun · icebreaker · circumpolar · high latitude
arctic blast
Severe cold from polar regions
displacement · wobble · destabilization · bomb cyclone · nor'easter · power outages
global warming
Rising planetary temperatures
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
- extreme weatherUnusual, dangerous atmospheric events
- climate patternsTypical atmospheric conditions over time
greenhouse gases · ozone depletion · climate research · climate models
- weatherweather, rain, sun, snow, wind
- weather phenomenatornado, wind, hurricane, gust, blizzard
- wintersnow, ice, cold, frozen, frost
- AntarcticaSouth Pole, Amundsen, Scott, penguins, ice sheet
- ArcticArctic Circle, Arctic Ocean, Arctic wildlife, Arctic exploration, Arctic research
- meteorologyweather, rain, wind, snow, clouds
polar vortexheat dome
Stationary high-pressure extreme warmth
heat wave · hot spell · scorching heat · warm front · summer heat
polar, vortex, polarization, vorticella, polarity, polarizing, bipolar, polarize, polarized