What do you believe is causing this unusually Warm Winter?

Answer 1

It's an El Nino winter...the El Nino this winter has a very similar signal to the El Nino of 1997-1998. In normal, non-El Nino conditions, the trade winds blow towards the west across the tropical Pacific. This pushes the surface waters away from the coast of Peru and allows cold water from the deep to rise to the surface in a process called "upwelling." During El Nino, the trade winds relax in the central and western Pacific. The reduced winds decrease upwelling to cool the surface and cut off the supply of nutrient rich cold water to surface. El Nino not only hurts the fishing industry of Peru but affects weather patterns globally.

This winter has started out warm in the eastern US, however, you probably have also noticed the trough in the west bringing very cold weather and lots of precipitation.

Keep in mind that weather patterns can change. If the warmer water is displaced further west, colder air could sink into the eastern United States.

As an aside...some of you have mentioned "global warming" in your answers. As a scientist, I have seen a lot of evidence to support global climate change (a better term than global warming) and it is something all humans should be concerned. However, statements such as "too much fossil fuels are warming the east" is a an oversimplification of what is happening this winter. I blame the media. Think back to the winter of 1997-1998, that's when the media declared that El Nino would be the end of the world, now it's Global Warming. This is where education is the key to understanding. Please don't get me wrong, Global Climate Change is real - just don't read the newspapers to find the facts.

Here's links for further information:
El Nino:
http://www.elnino.noaa.gov/

Global Climate Change:
http://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_4_1.htm

Answer 2

Well we are in an el nino year. Also its not an unusually warm winter. Its an unusually warm 12 years because of the human race raping the world. The warmth patterns are regional and your area is being affected this year. You from eatern US?

Answer 3

WE ARE

we are burning too much fossil fuels that harm our atmosphere and stuff up our planet and make it hotter. by the minute the antarctic ice glaciers are melting and making our sea levels rise making countries and islands flooded, at this rate the world will end in about 20-40 years from now if we dont slow the rate of global warming down.

Answer 4

the warming of earth - El Nino effect

Answer 5

The sun. It is the only thing that causes warmth.

I dare you to contradict that.

Answer 6

It is because of many carbon monoxid and carbon dioxids

Answer 7

IT IS GLOBAL WARMING THAT IS CAUSING THIS WEATHER.