ForumIAS announcing GS Foundation Program for UPSC CSE 2025-26 from 19 April. Click Here for more information.
ForumIAS Answer Writing Focus Group (AWFG) for Mains 2024 commencing from 24th June 2024. The Entrance Test for the program will be held on 28th April 2024 at 9 AM. To know more about the program visit: https://forumias.com/blog/awfg2024
- A record-breaking cold wave has swept through the US Midwest and is stated to be caused by a polar vortex.
- The polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding both of the Earth’s poles. The term “vortex” refers to the counter-clockwise flow of air that helps keep the colder air near the Poles.
- Polar vortex always exists near the poles, but weakens in summer and strengthens in winter. In winter, the north polar vortex sometimes becomes less stable and expands sending cold air southward with the jet stream. This is called a polar vortex event. Jet streams are a narrow belt of high altitude (above 12,000 m) westerly winds in the troposphere.
