Machine Learning Reveals Potential Warning Signal for Polar Vortex Disruptions

Machine learning reveals potential warning signal for polar vortex disruptions

The polar vortex, a swirling mass of cold air encircling the North Pole, is sometimes disrupted by sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) events, unleashing waves of frigid air that penetrate farther south than usual. Temperatures across North America and Europe drop precipitously when this happens, but such events remain hard to predict, meaning we can't easily warn people when SSW is imminent.

Using Machine Learning Techniques for Polar Vortex Predictions

A new model accurately reproduces aspects of polar vortex behavior, extracting indicators of imminent vortex collapse and accompanying frigid weather in North America and Europe.