SSW

SSW is an acronym that can refer to several terms across different domains. The two most widely used meanings are South-Southwest and Sudden Stratospheric Warming.

South-Southwest, often abbreviated SSW, is a compass direction. It corresponds to a bearing of 202.5 degrees on a standard 360-degree compass and lies between South and Southwest. It is used in navigation, aviation, and geography to describe routes, headings, or locations with reference to cardinal and intercardinal points. SSW is one of the 16 principal compass points, and it helps communicate directions with more precision than the cardinal directions alone.

Sudden Stratospheric Warming, also abbreviated SSW, is a meteorological phenomenon. It refers to rapid warming of the polar stratosphere, typically occurring in winter, when temperatures rise significantly over a few days and winds in the upper atmosphere weaken or reverse. This event can disrupt the polar vortex and influence mid-latitude weather patterns for weeks to months afterward, sometimes increasing the likelihood of cold snaps or altered storm tracks in the Northern Hemisphere.

Other uses of the acronym SSW exist in various fields, including organizations, programs, or technical terms, and their meanings depend on context. Because SSW can indicate different concepts in different disciplines, readers should rely on accompanying context or consult a disambiguation resource to determine the intended meaning.