The winter of 2013/2014- What happened to Climate Change? Part 1 Images from the following presentation: The winter of 2013/2014- What happened to Climate Change? Part 1 Daria Kluver, Ph.D. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Central Michigan University August 13th, 2014 Michigan Earth Science Teachers Association Conference

Average winter temperature in MI was 14. 7°F 5 Average winter temperature in MI was 14.7°F 5.5°F colder than the 20th century average meteorologists consider winter (December through February) Data Since 1895. Data from NCDC climate rankings http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/temp-and-precip/climatological-rankings/

10th coldest winter in Michigan Coldest since 1977 Record set in 1904

December 17th coldest January 10th coldest February 14th coldest March Since 1895. Data from NCDC climate rankings

http://mrcc.isws.illinois.edu http://mrcc.isws.illinois.edu/cliwatch/watch.htm

From NWS Billings

http://mrcc.isws.illinois.edu/cliwatch/watch.htm#

http://mrcc.isws.illinois.edu/cliwatch/watch.htm#

http://mrcc.isws.illinois.edu/cliwatch/watch.htm#

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/time-series/us

http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/data/ice/

From NWS grand rapids

Polar Vortex Persistent area of rotating cold air that occurs high in the atmosphere (stratosphere) at the poles. It is always there but is strongest in winter. http://www.princeton.edu/~mjucker/media.html Image: stratosphere-troposphere coupling by Martin Jucker – Princeton Climate Dynamics visualization

Occasionally weather patterns (energy) from the lower atmosphere (troposphere) can extend up into the stratosphere and disrupt the spinning, weakening it (even causing it to reverse direction). Image: the Washington Post