![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
. | ![]() |
. |
![]() by Brooks Hays Washington (UPI) Jan 4, 2018
As evidenced by newly compiled NASA satellite data, North America is a continent divided -- a continent divided by temperature extremes. The new composite map was plotted using MODIS land surface temperature data collected between Dec. 26 and Jan. 2. The map shows frigid temperatures across the eastern half of North America, with unusually warm temperatures stretching across the West Coast and Southwest. As NASA explains, the cold temperatures across the Midwest and East Coast are a global anomaly. "December and January have been abnormally warm for most of the world," the space agency wrote in a news release. "People in California have been worrying about wildfires in what should be the wet season, and Alaskans are ice skating in T-shirts." The east-west temperature divide is the result of the an atmospheric wave in the Jet Stream known as the Rossby wave. The wave's crest has dragged tropical air across the West Coast, while the trough has plunged a mass of Arctic air across much of Eastern U.S. and Canada. Some climate models suggest warming in the Arctic and the resulting loss of sea ice will increase the prevalence of jet stream patterns like the one currently impacting North America. "This particular year, we lost a lot of sea ice in the Pacific side of the Arctic Ocean," Jennifer Francis, research professor in the department of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University, told IndyStar. "That, combined with the sea-surface temperature patterns in the Pacific, we think, is favoring what we call a ridge." Even if global warming encourages new jet stream patterns, researchers say general warming trends will remain the reality for most of the planet. Summers will get hotter and winters milder. That doesn't mean there won't be any cold spells in the future, though.
![]() Los Angeles AFB CA (SPX) Dec 18, 2017 With the help of Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson, the Space and Missile Systems Center has unveiled the final Defense Meteorological Support Program satellite, DMSP-20, for display at the Schriever Space Complex within the Gordon Conference Center. "This display represents a nearly 60-year history of environmental monitoring success by a satellite constellation that continues to ... read more Related Links Earth Observation News - Suppiliers, Technology and Application
![]()
![]() |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |