Editing Quasi-biennial oscillation (section)

== Recent observations ==
The first significant observed deviation from the normal QBO since its discovery in early 1950s was noted beginning in February 2016, when the transition to easterly winds was disrupted by a new band of westerly winds that formed unexpectedly. The lack of a reliable QBO cycle deprives forecasters of a valuable tool. Since the QBO has a strong influence on the [[North Atlantic oscillation|North Atlantic Oscillation]] and thereby north European weather, scientists speculated that the coming winter could be warmer and stormier in that region.<ref>{{Cite journal|first=Betsy| last=Mason| url=https://www.science.org/content/article/unprecedented-disruption-atmospheres-pacemaker-foretells-wet-winter-europe|title=Unprecedented disruption to atmosphere's pacemaker foretells wet winter for Europe| journal=Science|date=2016-09-07|access-date=2016-09-09  |doi= 10.1126/science.aah7277}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Newman|first1=P. A.|last2=Coy|first2=L.|last3=Pawson|first3=S.|last4=Lait|first4=L. R. |title=The anomalous change in the QBO in 2015–2016|journal=Geophys. Res. Lett. |doi=10.1002/2016GL070373 |volume=43 |issue=16 |date=28 August 2016 |pages=8791–7 |bibcode=2016GeoRL..43.8791N|s2cid=132411820 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/1229062}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Osprey|first1=Scott M.|last2=Butchart|first2=Neal|last3=Knight|first3=Jeff R.|last4=Scaife|first4=Adam A.|last5=Hamilton|first5=Kevin|last6=Anstey|first6=James A.|last7=Schenzinger|first7=Verena|last8=Zhang|first8=Chunxi|title=An unexpected disruption of the atmospheric quasi-biennial oscillation|journal=Science |doi=10.1126/science.aah4156 |date=23 September 2016 |volume=353 |issue=6306 |pages=1424–7 |pmid=27608666|bibcode=2016Sci...353.1424O|hdl=10125/43740|s2cid=44671549|url=http://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10125/43740/1/Osprey%20et%20al..pdf|hdl-access=free}}</ref>
[[NASA]] scientists have been researching to test if the extremely strong [[2014–2016 El Niño event|2014–2016 El Niño]], [[climate change]], or some other factor might be involved. They are trying to determine whether this is more of a once-in-a-generation event or a sign of the changing climate.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Lynch|first1=Patrick|title=A Strange Thing Happened in the Stratosphere|url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/a-strange-thing-happened-in-the-stratosphere|date= 2 September 2016}}</ref>