Polar Vortex "Spinning Backwards" Above Arctic

Recent surprise warming in Earth's atmosphere has triggered a significant reversal event, causing the polar vortex circling the Arctic to swirl in the opposite direction, as reported by Harry Bakker for Space.com.

The polar vortex, a rotating mass of cold air, is most active during winter months and extends into the stratosphere.

While disruptions to the polar vortex have historically led to extremely cold weather and storms across parts of the US, the current change in direction is not expected to result in a similar "big freeze."

However, the sudden reversal has caused a record-breaking "ozone spike" above the North Pole.

The polar vortex, a rotating mass of cold air, is most active during winter months and extends into the stratosphere.

This recent reversal, prompted by sudden stratospheric warming, has led to temperatures climbing by as much as 90 degrees Fahrenheit within a couple of days. While such events can last for days, weeks, or even months, they are relatively rare and have significant impacts on weather patterns.

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