Is the polar vortex to blame for this winter's cold? Maybe not! While the stratospheric vortex has been wobbling and stretching, our experts say there's little evidence that it's the main driver of extreme winter weather in parts of the US so far. In fact, the stratosphere and troposphere have been largely uncoupled, doing their own thing for much of the season. So, what's really going on? And could the shape of the vortex, rather than its strength, be playing a role? Read more to find out: http

The troposphere is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, extending from the Earth's surface up to about 8 to 15 kilometers (5 to 9 miles) above sea level, with its height varying depending on geographical location and weather conditions. It contains approximately 75% of the atmosphere's mass and most of its water vapor, making it the layer where most weather events, such as clouds, rain, and storms, occur. The temperature in the troposphere generally decreases with altitude. #earth #atmosphere