To the Editor:

As we have seen or has been reported in the last few years, extreme cold weather and heavy snow precipitation has been a common occurrence in the “north band” of the US from Connecticut to Oregon.

[This is] due primarily to the tilting of the planet away from the sun and the rotation of the earth at approximately 25,000 mph, which is more consequential within the polar circle above 60 degrees to 90 degrees latitude.

These factors give rise to the winter “polar jet stream”: massive, turbulent, and punishing winter conditions that polar bears, seals, and a few other heavily furred mammals and indigenous people can tolerate.

Traditionally, this extreme weather was contained largely within the polar circle or occasionally slightly south of 60 degrees latitude.

However, with the gradual melting of the glaciers within the polar circle, the polar jet stream is no longer contained within its traditional boundaries. An analogy is in order.

We all have been informed by climatologists or have observed that, for example, a category 5 hurricane in the ocean will quickly reduce its fury to a tropical storm once it encounters mountainous terrain. The dynamics effecting the phenomena of the polar jet stream are similar.

[With] past existence of numerous glaciers at their peak, the massive and turbulent jet stream was contained largely within the polar circle or near the 60 degrees latitude.

As the glaciers have been diminishing in size, however, they are no longer able to contain the polar jet stream within its former boundaries. Consequently, its fury, unconstrained, reaches 20 or more degrees south of the 60-degree latitude on a regular basis and occasionally blankets states with heavy snow and cold temperatures as far south as Texas and Florida.

Peter L. Alagna

55 Head of Meadow Road, Newtown February 1, 2020

Editors Note: Mr Alagna has a chemical engineering degree from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree in urban planning from New York University and more than 20 years of professional experience in environmental protection.