With climate conditions changing, Arctic hurricanes are becoming more common over the polar waters of the Southern Hemisphere. These Arctic hurricanes may be seen as extremely heavy rains; however, meteorologists know them as polar lows. For centuries, tales have been told by mariners of drastic storms occurring almost suddenly, and causing chaos, but these storms have often been short-lived and were never forecast. While these polar lows may be smaller-scale cyclones that form in polar air, they could still cause much disruption.
More about how these polar lows occur in Arctic conditions
These polar lows are low-pressure systems that form in high-latitude maritime environments. Most polar lows tend to last for 12 to 48 hours, but generally do not last for longer than 48 hours. The reason why these polar lows form is that cold Arctic air happens to flow over warmer ocean currents. With the sudden temperature difference, the lower atmosphere destabilizes, and that’s what causes the storm to brew.
Being mesoscale systems, these storms are harder to predict, and very rarely do polar lows get detected. With almost no time to prepare for these mini cyclones that occur from out of nowhere. Being so taken aback by these sudden storms, mariners have called this occurrence Arctic hurricanes. However, the term “Arctic hurricanes”, in itself, is rather misleading. Polar lows do not follow the hurricane lifecycle and are provoked mainly by atmospheric instability.
Polar lows are more than heavy rainfall; it feels like a blizzard
When this storm gets more intense, the strong winds get stronger closer to the low-pressure centre. Wind speeds can rise to gale force. This means that vision gets blurry, creating blizzard-like conditions, and affects both the sea and land.
While this seems like a mere 48-hour setback, the main problem is that temperatures fall drastically after the storm, causing exposed wet surfaces to freeze, forming thick ice layers. This could pose a problem for transportation and infrastructure. It was also found that polar lows displayed patterns where they produce severe weather and heavy precipitation similar to that of falling snow.
It is when these polar lows are in the developing phase that they can be detected from satellites as a cloud-like feature, but during the mature phase, a clearer “eye” forms.
The implications of entire regions freezing
Thick icy layers that form following the cyclone could pose a big threat to mariners at sea. Ice on ships is rather dangerous in Northern waters. Polar lows can affect regions, making road access almost impossible. Polar lows can even cause problems on land, too. Road access can be cut off, with power lines being damaged as well. While the cyclone, however, tends to settle within a day or two, the destruction that is left in the wake of the cyclone is unexplainable. So while these storms are too quick to detect, the aftereffects can be clearly seen.
Being of such a small size and brewing rather rapidly, meteorologists are unable to anticipate these polar lows. To get more prepared for these unexpected blizzards, improved satellites and international cooperation may be necessary. With the early arrival of the winter season, we can only assume climate change is affecting polar lows, too.
Where does climate change fit into the polar lows equation?
Although polar lows have been common in regions like the Norwegian Sea, the waters near Iceland, the Labrador Sea, and in North Pacific regions, Arctic sea ice retreats are now experiencing these polar lows. Open water during autumn and winter ensures that heat and moisture can enter the atmosphere, increasing the intensity and frequency of these storms.
Due to climate change, the Arctic will warm up, making temperature extremes more obvious. When polar lows increase, freezing conditions may be pushed even further south, provoking winter disruptions in mid-latitude regions as well. Even though these Arctic hurricanes are not predictable or spiral in shape, being prepared for such events, especially in the Arctic regions, will make a world of difference. With golden snow even being worrisome, polar lows increasing due to climate change can be worrying as well.