May 25, 2015 05:07 AM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

There may be an association between the Arctic meltdown and severe weather in countries including the United Kingdom and the United States, according to a recent study.

A select group of international climate scientists, including Edward Hanna and PhD student Richard Hall, from the University of Sheffield's Department of Geography investigated possible connections to between Arctic climate change and extreme weather in the northern mid-latitudes, Summit County Voice reported.

Arctic temperatures are increasing two to three times faster than those at the mid-latitudes.

"Our work presents tantalizing new evidence of links between global warming, which is enhanced in high northern latitudes, and recent extreme winter weather events in the UK and further afield, as well as a timely review of much recent literature which has appeared in this important field of research," Hanna explained. "However, since the climate system is highly complex, many missing parts of the puzzle remain and much further work needs to be done."

Researchers said that although it is "too soon to know for certain whether the Arctic played a role in persistent cold events during the extreme wet UK winter of 2013/14 and recent USA East Coast winters," strong evidence shows a link between increased Arctic temperatures with changes in mid-latitude weather patterns, phys.org reported.

They believe new studies on the changing Arctic together with additional Arctic observations will improve the ability to make forecasts for the mid-latitudes, helping millions of people better plan for the future and take steps to be more resilient in the face of extreme weather.

The findings are detailed in the Journal of Climate. 

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