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Rossby Waves are big sine-type waves in the polar jet stream, with high pressure ridges pushing the jet stream north and troughs pushing it south. I have noticed a pattern over the last five years or so, where it seems like some areas in midlatitudes are anomolously dry, or cold and wet in winter, compared to the years before. For example, we are in record drought territory in the W. USA (way south of the Jet Stream which is shooting up through Canada), but the E. USA is under an onslaught of Arctic fronts and polar air and is north of the Jet Stream. In late winter, I predict we will get the wet stormy weather, but the general pattern is one of extremes, rather than zonal flow, where storms pass from west to east.
I just read a scientific paper that claimed such Rossby Waves are linked to minimal Arctic ice in the previous summers. They suggested that increased amplitude in Rossby Waves and slow movement of such wave can lead to paradoxically stagnant and extreme weather conditions in winter and summer, but particularly in the former. That sure seems to be what we are seeing this winter in N. America.
I suspect that there may be blocking pattern linkages with the multidecadal climate regimes (e.g. PDO, AMO) moreso than Arctic Sea ice extent. Just my two cents.
You are correct, but the general public in North America is far too focused on trying to make this a political issue by denying climate change, when in fact the recent increase in frequency of Rossby waves is very likely an effect of that climate change.
Take a look at our March averages in Saskatoon over the last few years (mean is -6 C).
2009: -12 C
2010: 0 C
2011: -12 C
2012: 0 C
2013: -13 C
See a pattern there? Now, we are used to seeing wild variations in monthly averages from year to year, but such a symmetric swing is something very new.
In 2013, we had periods where cold weather (relative to normal) was "stuck" in March and April, as well as periods when warm weather was "stuck" in August and September.
I suspect that there may be blocking pattern linkages with the multidecadal climate regimes (e.g. PDO, AMO) moreso than Arctic Sea ice extent. Just my two cents.
Well, I am just figuring this out myself, and most of my adult life has been in the positive PDO terrain. Certainly, something seems quite strange about the recent pattern, but I have read that negative PDO periods have some similarities.
It would be great to have someone better differentiate the two. I don't know enough to do that at this time.
You are correct, but the general public in North America is far too focused on trying to make this a political issue by denying climate change, when in fact the recent increase in frequency of Rossby waves is very likely an effect of that climate change.
Take a look at our March averages in Saskatoon over the last few years (mean is -6 C).
2009: -12 C
2010: 0 C
2011: -12 C
2012: 0 C
2013: -13 C
See a pattern there? Now, we are used to seeing wild variations in monthly averages from year to year, but such a symmetric swing is something very new.
In 2013, we had periods where cold weather (relative to normal) was "stuck" in March and April, as well as periods when warm weather was "stuck" in August and September.
Exactly, we have become so addicted to political "gotchas" that we can no longer hold a rational discourse about this hugely important topic.
I think I agree. That regularity in your data suggests to me a two phase system (under the jet stream, over the jet stream) and a highly amplified Rossby Wave situation. The stuck weather systems seem to be associated with the recent deep freezes in the Northeast, drought in the Southwest, and scorching, sustained heat waves in the southern plains. Any of these can occur at any time, of course, but something seems weird the last few years. Of course all the conservatives will go on and on about the deep freeze and ignore the other consequences, which seems to be their way these days. An observation is only acceptable if it passes the ideological purity test.
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