How Arctic meltdown can lead to extreme weather

Warm air

in the south

Warm air

moves north

Weak jet stream

Cold air

moves south

Strong jet stream

Cold

polar air

Arctic warming narrows the temperature difference, resulting in a slower jet stream that meanders more. The loops bring extreme weather to lower latitudes

The jet stream forms a boundary between

the cold north and warmer south. The temperature difference between these two areas powers the jet stream to speeds up to 250mph at about 8km above the surface

Normal polar jet stream

Weak polar jet stream

Warm air

in the south

Warm air

moves north

Weak jet stream

Cold air

moves south

Strong jet stream

Cold

polar air

Arctic warming narrows the temperature difference, resulting in a slower jet stream that meanders more. The loops bring extreme weather to lower latitudes

The jet stream forms a boundary between

the cold north and warmer south. The temperature difference between these two areas powers the jet stream to speeds up to 250mph at about 8km above the surface

Normal polar jet stream

Weak polar jet stream