Climate Indicators - Stratospheric Air Temperatures |
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Arctic Oscillation | Surface Temperatures | Stratospheric Temperatures | Clouds | Ocean
The following figures are maps showing a northern polar view of stratospheric temperature anomalies in March for different years. The extensive region of colder dark blue temperatures are indicative of stronger polar vortex winds. An anomaly is the difference from a long term average for the same time of year. Note the change in intensity and location of this cold polar vortex from year to year. It is thought that conditions in the stratosphere may influence conditions in the rest of the atmosphere. Six of the nine years in the 1990s had colder stratospheric temps and stronger vortex winds compared to the warmer conditions in the 1980s.Conditions have been more variable in the past three years.
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