Go here and here for background information on Polar Vortices.
Wind
Northern Polar Wind – It is recommended that click down through each height in succession so you that can see polar vorticity with depth:
10 hPa/mb – Approximately 31,000 meters (101,700 feet) Wide and Focused Perspective
70 hPa/mb – Approximately 18,000 meters (59,000 feet) Wide and Focused Perspective
250 hPa/mb – Approximately 10,400 meters (34,000 feet) Wide and Focused Perspective
Geopotential Height
Northern Hemisphere – Vertical Cross Section of Geopotential Height Anomalies (Polar Vortex)
![Northern Hemisphere - Vertical Cross Section of Geopotential Height Anomalies (Polar Vortex)](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/precip/CWlink/daily_ao_index/hgt.ao.cdas.gif?resize=578%2C396)
1 hPa/mb Height Analysis – Approximately 50,000 meters (164,000 feet):
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_z01_nh_f00.gif?resize=500%2C396)
2 hPa/mb Height Analysis – Approximately 42,500 meters (140,000 feet):
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_z02_nh_f00.gif?resize=500%2C396)
5 hPa/mb Height Analysis – Approximately 35,000 meters (115,000 feet):
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_z05_nh_f00.gif?resize=500%2C396)
10 hPa/mb Height Analysis – Approximately 31,000 meters (101,700 feet):
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_z10_nh_f00.gif?resize=500%2C396)
30 hPa/mb Height Analysis – Approximately 23,700 meters (77,800 feet):
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_z30_nh_f00.gif?resize=500%2C396)
50 hPa/mb Height Analysis – Approximately 20,100 meters (66,000 feet):
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_z50_nh_f00.gif?resize=500%2C396)
70 hPa/mb Height Analysis – Approximately 18,000 meters (59,000 feet):
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_z70_nh_f00.gif?resize=450%2C396)
100 hPa/mb Height Analysis – Approximately 15,000 meters (49,000 feet)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_z100_nh_f00.gif?resize=451%2C396)
Global – 200-hPa/mb Height Anomalies – Atmospheric Pressure Anomalies at Approximately 12,000 meters (40,000 feet)
![Global - 200-hPa/mb Height Anomalies - Atmospheric Pressure Anomalies At Approximately 12,000 meters (40,000 feet)](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/intraseasonal/z200anim.gif?resize=578%2C396)
Northern Hemisphere 250-hPa/mb Heights and Wind Speeds – Atmospheric Pressure Anomalies at Approximately 10,400 meters (34,000 feet)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/map/ANIM/250_wnd_anl_01.avn.23.gif?resize=578%2C396)
View an animated version of the graphic above – Click Here
Northern Hemisphere – 500-hPa /mb Height Anomalies – Atmospheric Pressure Anomalies At Approximately 5500 meters (18,000 feet)
![Northern Hemisphere - 500-hPa /mb Height Anomalies - Atmospheric Pressure Anomalies At Approximately 5500 meters (18,000 feet)](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/intraseasonal/z500_nh_30d_anim.gif?resize=578%2C396)
Northern Hemisphere – 500-hPa/mb Geopotential Height and Vorticity – Approximately 5500 meters (18,000 feet)
![](https://i0.wp.com/wxmaps.org/pix/hemi1.00hr.png?resize=578%2C396)
Temperature
1 hPa/mb Temperature Analysis – Approximately 50,000 meters (164,000 feet)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_t01_nh_f00.gif?resize=450%2C396)
2 hPa/mb Temperature Analysis – Approximately 42,500 meters (140,000 feet):
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_t02_nh_f00.gif?resize=450%2C396)
5 hPa/mb Temperature Analysis – Approximately 35,000 meters (115,000 feet)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_t05_nh_f00.gif?resize=450%2C396)
10 hPa/mb Temperature Analysis – Approximately 31,000 meters (101,700 feet)
![Northern Hemisphere Temperature Analysis at 10 hPa/mb - Approximately 31,000 meters (101,700 feet)](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_t10_nh_f00.gif?resize=450%2C396)
30 hPa/mb Temperature Analysis – Approximately 23,700 meters (77,800 feet)
![Northern Hemisphere Temperature Analysis at 30 hPa/mb - Approximately 23,700 meters (77,800 feet)](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_t30_nh_f00.gif?resize=450%2C396)
50 hPa/mb Temperature Analysis – Approximately 20,100 meters (66,000 feet)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_t50_nh_f00.gif?resize=451%2C396)
70 hPa/mb Temperature Analysis – Approximately 18,000 meters (59,000 feet)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_t70_nh_f00.gif?resize=449%2C396)
100 hPa/mb Temperature Analysis – Approximately 15,000 (49,213 feet)
![Northern Hemisphere Temperature Analysis at 100 hPa/mb - Approximately 15,000 (49,213 feet)](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_t100_nh_f00.gif?resize=448%2C396)
Northern Hemisphere Area Where Temperature is Below 195K or -78C (Temperature below which Polar Stratospheric Clouds May Form)
![Northern Hemisphere Area Where Temperature is Below 195K or -78C (Temperature below which Polar Stratospheric Clouds May Form)](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/polar/gif_files/time_pres_tnat_NH.png?resize=578%2C396)
Zonal Temperature Anomaly Time Series
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat-trop/gif_files/time_pres_TEMP_ANOM_ALL_NH_2014.gif?resize=578%2C396)
50-hPa/mb Zonal Mean Temperature Anomalies – Approximately 20,100 meters (66,000 feet)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/polar/gif_files/time_lat_t50.gif?resize=578%2C396)
Global – 10-hPa/mb Height Temperature Anomalies – Atmospheric Temperature Anomalies At Approximately 31,000 meters (101,700 feet)
![Global - 10-hPa/mb Height Temperature Anomalies - Atmospheric Temperature Anomalies At Approximately 31,000 meters (101,700 feet)](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/intraseasonal/temp10anim.gif?resize=578%2C396)
Global – 30-hPa/mb Height Temperature Anomalies – Atmospheric Temperature Anomalies At Approximately 23,700 meters (77,800 feet)
![Global - 30-hPa/mb Height Temperature Anomalies - Atmospheric Temperature Anomalies At Approximately 23,700 meters (77,800 feet)](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/intraseasonal/temp30anim.gif?resize=578%2C396)
Global – 50-hPa/mb Height Temperature Anomalies – Atmospheric Temperature Anomalies At Approximately 20,100 meters (66,000 feet)
![Global - 50-hPa/mb Height Temperature Anomalies - Atmospheric Temperature Anomalies At Approximately 20,100 meters (66,000 feet)](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/intraseasonal/temp50anim.gif?resize=578%2C396)
Northern Polar Temperature Lower Stratosphere (TLS) – 1979 to Present
![Temperature Southern Polar Lower Stratosphere (TLS) - 1979 to Present](https://i0.wp.com/ftp.ssmi.com/msu/graphics/tls/plots/rss_ts_channel_tls_northern%20polar_land_and_sea_v03_3.png?resize=578%2C396)
Ozone
Ozone Mixing Ratio map showing a slight “Ozone Hole” within the Vortex:
1 hPa/mb Ozone Mixing Ratio – Approximately 50,000 meters (164,000 feet)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_o3mr_01_nh_f00.gif?resize=450%2C396)
2 hPa/mb Ozone Mixing Ratio – Approximately 42,500 meters (140,000 feet):
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_o3mr_02_nh_f00.gif?resize=450%2C396)
5 hPa/mb Ozone Mixing Ratio – Approximately 35,000 meters (115,000 feet)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_o3mr_05_nh_f00.gif?resize=450%2C396)
10 hPa/mb Ozone Mixing Ratio – Approximately 31,000 meters (101,700 feet)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_o3mr_10_nh_f00.gif?resize=450%2C396)
30 hPa/mb Ozone Mixing Ratio – Approximately 23,700 meters (77,800 feet)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_o3mr_30_nh_f00.gif?resize=449%2C396)
50-hPa/mb Ozone Mixing Ratio – Approximately 20,100 meters (66,000 feet)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_o3mr_50_nh_f00.gif?resize=452%2C396)
70-hPa/mb Ozone Mixing Ratio – Approximately 18,000 meters (59,000 feet)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_o3mr_70_nh_f00.gif?resize=451%2C396)
100-hPa/mb Ozone Mixing Ratio – Approximately 15,000 (49,213 feet)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat_a_f/gif_files/gfs_o3mr_100_nh_f00.gif?resize=451%2C396)
Northern Hemisphere Total Stratospheric Ozone
![Northern Hemisphere Total Ozone](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/sbuv2to/gif_files/sbuv18_nh_latest.gif?resize=460%2C396)
Planetary Waves
Zonal Wave #1 Amplitude Time Series:
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat-trop/gif_files/time_pres_WAVE1_MEAN_ALL_NH_2014.gif?resize=578%2C396)
Zonal Wave #2 Amplitude Jan, Feb, March Time Series:
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/strat-trop/gif_files/time_pres_WAVE2_MEAN_ALL_NH_2014.gif?resize=578%2C396)
Coriolis Torque
Vertical and Zonal Integral Of Coriolis Torque
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/map/images/reanalysis/aam_total/gltauc.png?resize=578%2C396)
Mountain Torque
Vertical and Zonal Integral Of Mountain Torque
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/map/images/reanalysis/aam_total/gltaum.png?resize=578%2C396)
Eddy Heat Flux
10 day Averaged Eddy Heat Flux Towards The North Pole At 100mb
![10 day Averaged Eddy Heat Flux Towards The North Pole At 100mb](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/polar/gif_files/time_series_cfsr_vt_100mb_2014_NH.gif?resize=578%2C396)
Atmospheric Transmission of Solar Radiation
UV Erythemal Daily Dosage
![UV Erythemal Daily Dosage](https://i0.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/polar/gif_files/uv_dosage_world_est.gif?resize=578%2C396)
Source Guide
Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies (COLA) – Institute of Global Environment and Society (IGES)
Home Page – http://wxmaps.org/pix.html
Height and Vorticity Analyses Page – http://wxmaps.org/pix/analyses.html?bandwidth=high
Hurricane Potential Page – http://wxmaps.org/pix/hurpot.html?bandwidth=high
Forecast Page – http://wxmaps.org/pix/forecasts.html?bandwidth=high
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL)
Home Page – http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/
Physical Sciences Division (PSD) Products Page – http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/products/
Physical Sciences Division (PSD) Data Data Page – http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/data/
Physical Sciences Division (PSD) Data Maps Page – http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/map/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)
Home Page – http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/about/about.html?bandwidth=high
Products Page – http://www.ncdc.noaa.govgov/oa/ncdc.html?bandwidth=high
Stratosphere Page – http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/?bandwidth=high
FTP Page – http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/cmb/?bandwidth=high
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – National Weather Service – Climate Prediction Center
Home Page – http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/
Products Page – http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/
Monitoring and Data Products Page – http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/MD_index.shtml
Atmospheric & SST Indices Page – http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/data/indices/
Regional Climate Maps – http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/regional_monitoring/
Monitoring and Data Page – http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/monitoring_and_data/
FTP Page – ftp://ftp.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/
Policlimate.com | Ryan Maue’s Weather Maps (NCEP GFS, NAM, WRF and ECMWF)
http://policlimate.com/weather/
Remote Sensing Systems (RSS)
Home Page – http://ssmi.com/?bandwidth=high
MSU Page – http://ssmi.com/msu/msu_browse.html?bandwidth=high
MSU FTP Page – ftp://ftp.ssmi.com/msu/?bandwidth=high
FTP Page – ftp://ftp.ssmi.com/?bandwidth=high
StormSurf.com
Home Page – http://www.stormsurf.com/
Model Products Page – http://www.stormsurf.com/mdls/menu.html
Weather Model – Global Jet Stream Wind and 250 mb Pressure – http://www.stormsurfing.com/cgi/display_alt.cgi?a=glob_250
Wave Mode – North Atlantic Surface Pressure and Wind – http://www.stormsurfing.com/cgi/display.cgi?a=natla_slp
Explore a recent thesis involving paramagnetic oxygen and wandering magnetic poles. It may control global climate change. https://www.harrytodd.org
Nice research Rob. The math bears out your conclusion that LEDs are less costly of the life of the bulbs compared to the alternatives. I wonder whether 20+ years is what one can realistically expect from an LED bulb’s lifespan. I remember expecting 10 years or so from CFLs but never saw that ever. When I would put in a new CFL, I would write the installation date on the bulb’s socket for reference. Usually I’d have a CFL last for about 2 years max. I hope LED bulbs last 20 years but I’m wary of those claims. All my LEDs have installation dates written on them.