The arctic summer influences the winter of Europe

When the Arctic ice sheet decreases during the summer, in Europe the possibility of experiencing very cold and snowy winters increases. These are the conclusions of a global climate analysis conducted by the Alfred Wegener Polar and Marine Research Institute (Potsdam, Germany).

This phenomenon is explained because as the ice layer decreases, the air heats up more. The effect is accentuated during autumn and winter, during which the ocean temperature is higher than the ambient temperature. As a result, the atmosphere becomes more unstable and typical air pressure and circulation patterns are altered, with very cold Arctic air masses entering Europe.
The researchers note, however, that there are many other factors affecting global climate, such as snow cover in Siberia or tropical influences. Because of this, a decrease in the ice sheet in summer does not necessarily imply a freezing winter in Europe, but including this factor in predictions will help increase the accuracy of weather forecasts.