What is the Polar Vortex?

Multimedia - Video: Clip (eg. AVI, MOV)

31 Mar 2014 -

Record low temperatures in the U.S. in early 2014 added a new phrase to the American lexicon: polar vortex. What is it? Is it really new? In this video by Earth Vision Trust, Mark Serreze, Director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center, explains the behavior of the cold polar air jet stream.