Catastrophic Arctic Blast
By Kiya McClenton
Over the past three years, the world has been impacted by harsh storms, called Arctic blasts, during wintertime. With weather conditions worsening and rising death tolls, citizens are trying to determine why these storms are becoming so prominent and what they can do to help prevent and protect themselves from the aftereffects.
One of the biggest questions many citizens have is why the recent winters been so cold. The Center for Science & Education at UCAR explains that these weather conditions are caused by polar jet streams, which, "occurs in the troposphere ...of the atmosphere,". The article describes that "Polar jet streams tend to mark the boundary between the warmer air...and colder air that often remains contained in the Arctic." However, polar jet streams can sometimes develop a wavy pattern, called "meandering", which causes the cold air to move into the areas of warmer environments. The article goes on to explain that the "pattern is further complicated by the overall warming of the Arctic," which causes the Arctic air to "spill" into southern regions.
Citizens all over the United States have been struggling to face this past winter. The storms have made general commutes and travel extremely difficult for citizens. Rebecca Cohen from NBC News reported that on January 18, 2024, an American Airlines flight in Rochester, New York, slid off the taxiway after landing; fortunately, all 53 passengers on board were evacuated safely and uninjured. Investigators concluded that this accident was caused by the snowy taxiway.
The intense weather has even become fatal. The National Post described how three family members in Portland, Oregon were electrocuted on January 17, 2024, after a power line fell on their car and their icy driveway caused them to slip and step on the live wire. An 18-year-old witness, Majiah Washington, was able to save a 9-month-old baby stuck in the car. NBC News has estimated that there have been over 60 reported deaths across the U.S. related to the cold weather. These conditions seem to be growing worse, but there are many things citizens can do to help improve our environment.
The release of the Arctic air is due to the melting ice caps along with the wavering polar jet streams. As citizens, we can help prevent this by reducing our production of carbon dioxide by using sources of energy that are recyclable. Citizens can also prevent this by conserving electric energy, which has been found to be connected to the release of greenhouse gasses. This may be in contrast to trying to stay warm during these severe winters. An article by the Times of India suggests that citizens should, "limit their time outdoors, dress in warm layers, and watch out for signs of frostbite and hypothermia." It can take a few simple steps to help bring improvements to our environment.
The recent weather conditions have been jarring and have left a negative impact on many people across the nation. Knowing the cause of this weather allows us to get even closer to figuring out what we can do to help the environment and to protect ourselves. Nature is in control of itself, but there are still things people can do to help improve their conditions.