To people actually interested in how the climate works, however, seeing what happens in a very strong negative AO may prove a boon, by allowing the roles of different processes in ice loss to be further disentangled.

ECONOMIST: Britain��s cold snap is explained by the Arctic oscillation

Platt must have still been day-dreaming about his try a few minutes later though as Cooper Vuna took advantage of the full-back's indecisiveness to get his fingertips to a bouncing ball before a late penalty from Joel Taufa'ao gave Tonga a narrow advantage going into half-time.

BBC: Tonga 22-20 Ireland

Conversely, a strong negative AO such as this winter's may trap more ice in the Beaufort Sea, allowing it to thicken and refortify itself.

ECONOMIST: Britain��s cold snap is explained by the Arctic oscillation

So at nearly any moment in a weekend, I can watch a half dozen kids gathering around AO on the computer like it was a warm campfire.

FORBES: Connect

The Blues still had the last say, though, as replacement front-row Taufa'ao Filise added a ninth try for the home side three minutes from the end.

BBC: Blues 58-0 Connacht

However, their scrum was under pressure as Duncan Jones made Taufa'ao Filise's early efforts a misery and denied the hosts a platform from which to build momentum.

BBC: Blues 20-12 Ospreys

With just a minute on the clock they mounted a surging attack and after powerful carries from Taufa'ao Filise and James, Halfpenny was just kept out as he tried to cross in the corner.

BBC: Cardiff Blues 50-12 Gloucester

When I was a kid, I used to see Cinerama movies and Todd-AO, and it was in the days we had what we used to call roadshows, when we'd have one spectacular Cinerama theater per town, not 50.

CNN: Special-effects master pushes new movie format

Taufa'ao Filise shunted over to restore the Blues' lead and despite a late try by Andrew Higgins, Blair's boot kept Bath at arm's length at the Arms Park.

BBC: Cardiff Blues 24-18 Bath