Radical Noesis - Thinking outside the box

According to the AP article, satellite measurements from 1979 t0 2005 show that the jet stream has pushed out from the equator by 140 miles. This is being reflected in climate changes and growing droughts and desertification.

IOL.com takes a slightly different approach with the report in their article "Tropical regions are expanding." They note that while the causes for the growth of the tropical region are not certain, that both global warming and ozone depletion are suspects in the change.

My understanding is that it is the polar regions that largely control the placement of the jet stream. Differences in polar temperatures from winter to summer are what effects the seasonal changes in the jet stream. With dramatic warming at the poles, it makes sense that the tropical jet stream would expand in both directions. Since the jet stream is a major weather driver, then the expansion of the tropical zone could have far reaching consequences.

The AP article notes:

"A shift in where subtropical dry zones lie could make climate change locally noticeable for more people, said Karen Rosenlof, a NOAA research meteorologist also unconnected to the study."

It might make it more noticeable if weather forecasters and climatologists make the connection for folks. If they continue to largely pass off the changes as a "fluke," then people will certainly notice it, but they won't know what they are noticing.