To clarify it was me who mentioned the 'guff and bluster' about SSWs and the potential effects. I was not referring to anyone on this forum, rather the general ill-informed chit chat that occurs on Twatter and FB who see a significant warming at 10hPa and conclude we will get BFTE2 in a weeks time. Like many on these forums I am always learning and there is plenty of information in the forums and generally to help that process and a little application goes a long way. I am no expert but a SSW is a technical parameter (of which a warming at 10hPa is an element not the whole), the effects of which (longevity, TPV displacement or split) vary from zero influence on the surface patterns to big changes in pattern but how long that takes (down-welling etc), where it occurs, how long it lasts, etc are all things for the models to resolve and no model will get it right.
No one should feel hesitant about expressing a view on SSWs, or anything elese for that matter (this is after all model discusion not 'model in-depth analysis by experts' ;)), but in doing so (as Peter did above) at least acknowledge the opinion might not be scientifically relevant.
Originally Posted by: nsrobins