How is Arctic warming linked to the ‘polar vortex’ and other extreme weather?
Over the past decade, a growing body of research has proposed ways in which rapid Arctic warming can lead to harsh winters, summer heatwaves and even floods and droughts across the mid-latitudes. Some scientists say that climate change and Arctic sea ice loss are the root cause of these events, but others are more circumspect. In this detailed Q&A, scientists discuss the potential connections between Arctic warming and extreme weather across the mid-latitudes, what those theories look like, and how the evidence measures up.