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Chapter 8- Synoptic climatology
Instantaneous climatological conditions
•a snap shot of what the climate is like at
some point in time
Typically used in meteorological forecasting to
show current weather conditions
Air mass
locations,
designations
and tracks
Cyclonic storm tracks
Cyclogenesis
Cyclonic storms
• Associated with Low pressure systems
• Lows moved by Upper level high velocity winds
- Jetstream
• usually involve air masses with different properties
- one warm the other cold
- one humid the other dry
Cyclone-Anticyclone relationships to Upper Air flow
And vertical motion
Fronts (1:2)
• Transition zone between air masses
- described according to air mass which is
approaching and relative motion
• Cold Front (can move very fast)
- colder air mass moving faster than warmer air
- lifts warm air up in front of it
- may form something called a "dry line"
> associated with strong thunderstorm development
Fronts (2:2)
• Warm Front (typically moves more slowly)
- warmer air mass moving faster than cooler air
- warm air rides up over cold dense air
- usually a wider band of "active" weather
Air sectors and
air flow
associated with
a mid-latitude
cyclonic storm
from map view
and 3D view
QuickTime™ and a
Animation decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Case study- 1993 flooding in upper mid-West
Jetstream track is across the north central US
Mid-latitude Cyclones come through one right
after another
Rossby waves in Jet stand still, are not present,
or are timed to coincide exactly with making the
storms track across the Upper mid-West
Results in tremendous amounts of rainfall
Some locations get 250% of their annual
precipitation in 4 months!