Global Perspectives on Observing Ocean Boundary Current Systems

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Global Perspectives on Observing Ocean Boundary Current Systems University of Rhode Island DigitalCommons@URI Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications Graduate School of Oceanography 8-2019 Global Perspectives on Observing Ocean Boundary Current Systems Robert E. Todd Francisco P. Chavez Sophie Clayton Sophie Cravatte Marlos Goes See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/gsofacpubs Citation/Publisher Attribution Todd RE, Chavez FP, Clayton S, Cravatte S, Goes M, Graco M, Lin X, Sprintall J, Zilberman NV, Archer M, Arístegui J, Balmaseda M, Bane JM, Baringer MO, Barth JA, Beal LM, Brandt P, Calil PHR, Campos E, Centurioni LR, Chidichimo MP, Cirano M, Cronin MF, Curchitser EN, Davis RE, Dengler M, deYoung B, Dong S, Escribano R, Fassbender AJ, Fawcett SE, Feng M, Goni GJ, Gray AR, Gutiérrez D, Hebert D, Hummels R, Ito S-i, Krug M, Lacan F, Laurindo L, Lazar A, Lee CM, Lengaigne M, Levine NM, Middleton J, Montes I, Muglia M, Nagai T, Palevsky HI, Palter JB, Phillips HE, Piola A, Plueddemann AJ, Qiu B, Rodrigues RR, Roughan M, Rudnick DL, Rykaczewski RR, Saraceno M, Seim H, Sen Gupta A, Shannon L, Sloyan BM, Sutton AJ, Thompson L, van der Plas AK, Volkov D, Wilkin J, Zhang D and Zhang L (2019) Global Perspectives on Observing Ocean Boundary Current Systems. Front. Mar. Sci. 6:423. doi: 10.3389/ fmars.2019.00423 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School of Oceanography at DigitalCommons@URI. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@URI. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Authors Robert E. Todd, Francisco P. Chavez, Sophie Clayton, Sophie Cravatte, Marlos Goes, Michelle Graco, Xiaopei Lin, Janet Sprintall, Nathalie V. Zilberman, Matthew Archer, Javier Arístegui, Magdalena Balmaseda, John M. Bane, Molly O. Baringer, John A. Barth, Lisa M. Beal, Peter Brandt, Paulo H. R. Calil, Edmo Campos, Luca R. Centurioni, Maria Paz Chidichimo, Mauro Cirano, Meghan F. Cronin, Enrique N. Curchitser, Russ E. Davis, Marcus Dengler, Brad deYoung, Shenfu Dong, Ruben Escribano, Andrea J. Fassbender, Sarah E. Fawcett, Ming Feng, Gustavo J. Goni, Alison R. Gray, Dimitri Gutiérrez, Dave Hebert, Rebecca Hummels, Shin-ichi Ito, Marjorlaine Krug, François Lacan, Lucas Laurindo, Alban Lazar, Craig M. Lee, Matthieu Lengaigne, Naomi M. Levine, John Middleton, Ivonne Montes, Mike Muglia, Takeyoshi Nagai, Hilary I. Palevsky, Jaime B. Palter, Helen E. Phillips, Alberto Piola, Albert J. Plueddemann, Bo Qiu, Regina R. Rodrigues, Moninya Roughan, Daniel L. Rudnick, Ryan R. Rykaczewski, Martin Saraceno, Harvey Seim, Alex Sen Gupta, Lynne Shannon, Bernadette M. Sloyan, Adrienne J. Sutton, LuAnne Thompson, Anja K. van der Plas, Denis Volkov, John Wilkin, Dongxiao Zhang, and Linlin Zhang This article is available at DigitalCommons@URI: https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/gsofacpubs/758 fmars-06-00423 August 7, 2019 Time: 18:7 # 1 REVIEW published: 08 August 2019 doi: 10.3389/fmars.2019.00423 Global Perspectives on Observing Ocean Boundary Current Systems Robert E. Todd1*, Francisco P. Chavez2, Sophie Clayton3, Sophie Cravatte4, Marlos Goes5,6, Michelle Graco7, Xiaopei Lin8, Janet Sprintall9, Nathalie V. Zilberman9, Matthew Archer10, Javier Arístegui11, Magdalena Balmaseda12, John M. Bane13, Edited by: Molly O. Baringer5, John A. Barth14, Lisa M. Beal6, Peter Brandt15,16, Paulo H. R. Calil17, Sabrina Speich, Edmo Campos18, Luca R. Centurioni9, Maria Paz Chidichimo19, Mauro Cirano20, École Normale Supérieure, France Meghan F. Cronin21, Enrique N. Curchitser22, Russ E. Davis9, Marcus Dengler15, Reviewed by: Brad deYoung23, Shenfu Dong5, Ruben Escribano24, Andrea J. Fassbender2, Moacyr Cunha de Araujo Filho, Sarah E. Fawcett25, Ming Feng26, Gustavo J. Goni5, Alison R. Gray27, Dimitri Gutiérrez7, Federal Rural University Dave Hebert28, Rebecca Hummels15, Shin-ichi Ito29, Marjorlaine Krug30, of Pernambuco, Brazil 4,31 6 32 33 Eitarou Oka, François Lacan , Lucas Laurindo , Alban Lazar , Craig M. Lee , 32 34 35 36 The University of Tokyo, Japan Matthieu Lengaigne , Naomi M. Levine , John Middleton , Ivonne Montes , Mike Muglia13,37, Takeyoshi Nagai38, Hilary I. Palevsky39, Jaime B. Palter40, *Correspondence: Helen E. Phillips41, Alberto Piola19,42, Albert J. Plueddemann1, Bo Qiu43, Robert E. Todd 44 45 9 46 [email protected] Regina R. Rodrigues , Moninya Roughan , Daniel L. Rudnick , Ryan R. Rykaczewski , Martin Saraceno42,47, Harvey Seim13, Alex Sen Gupta45, Lynne Shannon48, 49 21 27 Specialty section: Bernadette M. Sloyan , Adrienne J. Sutton , LuAnne Thompson , This article was submitted to Anja K. van der Plas50, Denis Volkov5,6, John Wilkin51, Dongxiao Zhang21,52 and Ocean Observation, Linlin Zhang53 a section of the journal 1 2 Frontiers in Marine Science Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, United States, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA, United States, 3 Department of Ocean, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, Old Dominion University, Received: 31 October 2018 Norfolk, VA, United States, 4 LEGOS, IRD, CNES, CNRS, UPS, Universite de Toulouse, Toulouse, France, 5 NOAA’s Atlantic Accepted: 05 July 2019 Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Miami, FL, United States, 6 Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Published: 08 August 2019 Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States, 7 Instituto del Mar del Peru, Lima, Peru, 8 Qingdao National Citation: Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China, 9 Scripps Institution Todd RE, Chavez FP, Clayton S, of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States, 10 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Cravatte S, Goes M, Graco M, Lin X, Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States, 11 Instituto de Oceanografía y Cambio Global, Universidad de Las Sprintall J, Zilberman NV, Archer M, Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain, 12 European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading, Arístegui J, Balmaseda M, Bane JM, United Kingdom, 13 Department of Marine Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, Baringer MO, Barth JA, Beal LM, United States, 14 College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States, Brandt P, Calil PHR, Campos E, 15 GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany, 16 Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Kiel Centurioni LR, Chidichimo MP, University, Kiel, Germany, 17 Institute of Coastal Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Geesthacht, Germany, Cirano M, Cronin MF, Curchitser EN, 18 Departamento de Oceanografia Física, Química e Geológica University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, 19 Consejo Davis RE, Dengler M, deYoung B, Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Servicio de Hidrografía Naval, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 20 Department of Dong S, Escribano R, Fassbender AJ, Meteorology, Institute of Geosciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 21 NOAA Pacific Fawcett SE, Feng M, Goni GJ, Marine Environmental Laboratory, Seattle, WA, United States, 22 Deptartment of Environmental Science, Rutgers University, Gray AR, Gutiérrez D, Hebert D, New Brunswick, NJ, United States, 23 Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, Memorial University Hummels R, Ito S-i, Krug M, Lacan F, of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada, 24 Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Laurindo L, Lazar A, Lee CM, Chile, 25 Department of Oceanography, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, 26 CSIRO Oceans Lengaigne M, Levine NM, and Atmosphere, Crawley, WA, Australia, 27 School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Middleton J, Montes I, Muglia M, 28 Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, NS, Canada, 29 Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University Nagai T, Palevsky HI, Palter JB, of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan, 30 Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Cape Town, South Africa, 31 LEGOS, CNRS, Phillips HE, Piola A, Plueddemann AJ, CNES, UPS, University of Toulouse, Toulouse, France, 32 LOCEAN-IPSL, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France, 33 Applied Qiu B, Rodrigues RR, Roughan M, Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, 34 Department of Biological Sciences, University Rudnick DL, Rykaczewski RR, of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States, 35 South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Saraceno M, Seim H, Sen Gupta A, Sciences), West Beach, SA, Australia, 36 Instituto Geofísico del Perú, Lima, Peru, 37 UNC Coastal Studies Institute, Shannon L, Sloyan BM, Sutton AJ, Wanchese, NC, United States, 38 Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan, 39 Wellesley College, Thompson L, van der Plas AK, Wellesley, MA, United States, 40 Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI, Volkov D, Wilkin J, Zhang D and United States, 41 Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia, 42 Departamento Zhang L (2019) Global Perspectives de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y los Oceanos, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 43 School of Ocean and on Observing Ocean Boundary Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa,¯ Honolulu, HI, United States, 44 Departamento de Current Systems. Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis,
Recommended publications
  • Extreme Climatic Characteristics Near the Coastline of the Southeast Region of Brazil in the Last 40 Years
    Extreme Climatic Characteristics Near the Coastline of the Southeast Region of Brazil in the Last 40 Years Marilia Mitidieri Fernandes de Oliveira ( [email protected] ) Federal University of Rio de Janeiro: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Jorge Luiz Fernandes de Oliveira Fluminense Federal University Pedro José Farias Fernandes Fluminense Federal University, Physical Geography Laboratory (LAGEF), Eric Gilleland National, Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Nelson Francisco Favilla Ebecken Federal University of Rio de Janeiro: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Research Article Keywords: ERA5 Reanalysis data, Non-parametric statistical tests, severe weather systems, subtropical cyclones Posted Date: June 7th, 2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-159473/v1 License: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Read Full License 1 Extreme climatic characteristics near the coastline of the Southeast region of Brazil in the last 40 years Marilia Mitidieri Fernandes de Oliveira1, Jorge Luiz Fernandes de Oliveira2, Pedro José Farias Fernandes3, Eric Gilleland4, Nelson Francisco Favilla Ebecken1 1Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Civil Engineering Postgraduate Program-COPPE/UFRJ, Center of Technology, Rio de Janeiro 21945-970, Brazil 2Fluminense Federal University, Geography Postgraduate Program, Department of Geography, Geoscience Institute, Niterói 24210-340, Brazil 3Fluminense Federal University, Physical Geography Laboratory (LAGEF), Department of Geography, Niterói 24210-340,
    [Show full text]
  • NOTES and CORRESPONDENCE Synoptic-Scale Controls of Summer
    15 FEBRUARY 2006 NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE 613 NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE Synoptic-Scale Controls of Summer Precipitation in the Southeastern United States JEREMY E. DIEM Department of Anthropology and Geography, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia (Manuscript received 15 October 2004, in final form 11 August 2005) ABSTRACT Past climatological research has not quantitatively defined the synoptic-scale circulation deviations re- sponsible for anomalous summer-season precipitation totals in the southeastern United States. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to determine the synoptic-scale controls of wet and dry multiday periods during the summer within a portion of the southeastern United States as well as to assess the linkages between synoptic-scale circulation and multidecadal variations in precipitation characteristics for the study domain. Daily precipitation data from 30 stations for June, July, and August from 1953 to 2002 were converted into 13-day totals. Using standardized principal components analysis (PCA), the study domain was divided into three precipitation regions (i.e., South, Northwest, and Northeast). Wet and dry periods for each region were composed of the top 56 and bottom 56 thirteen-day periods. Composite circulation maps for 500 and 850 mb revealed the following: wet periods were generally associated with an upper-level trough over the interior southeastern United States coincident with strong lower-tropospheric flow into the South- east from the Gulf of Mexico, and dry periods were characterized by ridges or anticyclones over the midwestern and southeastern United States coupled with weak lower-tropospheric flow. Many of the wet periods had surface fronts. Over the 50-yr period, increased precipitation was significantly correlated with increased occurrences of midtropospheric troughs over the study domain.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Climatology of South American Seasonal Changes
    Vol. 27 N° 1 y 2 (2002) 1-30 PROGRESS IN PAN AMERICAN CLIVAR RESEARCH: UNDERSTANDING THE SOUTH AMERICAN MONSOON Julia Nogués-Paegle 1 (1), Carlos R. Mechoso (2), Rong Fu (3), E. Hugo Berbery (4), Winston C. Chao (5), Tsing-Chang Chen (6), Kerry Cook (7), Alvaro F. Diaz (8), David Enfield (9), Rosana Ferreira (4), Alice M. Grimm (10), Vernon Kousky (11), Brant Liebmann (12), José Marengo (13), Kingste Mo (11), J. David Neelin (2), Jan Paegle (1), Andrew W. Robertson (14), Anji Seth (14), Carolina S. Vera (15), and Jiayu Zhou (16) (1) Department of Meteorology, University of Utah, USA, (2) Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, USA, (3) Georgia Institute of Technology; Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, USA (4) Department of Meteorology, University of Maryland, USA, (5) Laboratory for Atmospheres, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, USA, (6) Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, Iowa State University, USA, (7) Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University, USA, (8) Instituto de Mecánica de Fluidos e Ingeniería Ambiental, Universidad de la República, Uruguay, (9) NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic Laboratory, USA, (10) Department of Physics, Federal University of Paraná, Brazil, (11) Climate Prediction Center/NCEP/NWS/NOAA, USA, (12) NOAA-CIRES Climate Diagnostics Center, USA, (13) Centro de Previsao do Tempo e Estudos de Clima, CPTEC, Brazil, (14) International Research Institute for Climate Prediction, Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, USA, (15) CIMA/Departmento de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, (16) Goddard Earth Sciences Technology Center, University of Maryland, USA. (Manuscript received 13 May 2002, in final form 20 January 2003) ABSTRACT A review of recent findings on the South American Monsoon System (SAMS) is presented.
    [Show full text]
  • Synoptic-Scale Controls of Fog and Low Clouds in the Namib Desert: Response to Reviewer 1
    Synoptic-scale controls of fog and low clouds in the Namib Desert: Response to Reviewer 1 Hendrik Andersen, Jan Cermak, Julia Fuchs, Peter Knippertz, Marco Gaetani, Julian Quinting, Sebastian Sippel, and Roland Vogt contact: [email protected] We would like to thank reviewer 1 for her/his careful review of the manuscript and her/his constructive criticism and valuable comments. Comments by the referee are colored in black, our replies or comments are colored in blue and italics. Using a 14-year period of reanalysis grids and backward trajectories, this study examines the impact of large-scale dynamics and thermodynamics on fog and low clouds (FLCs) over Namib. Specifically, the authors’ focus on two seasons when different FLC types are observed due to different synoptic-scale regimes. A main finding is that the mean sea level pressure (MSLP) field differs notably between clear and FLC days. To this end, the authors’ use a statistical model and MSLP fields to provide skillful prediction of FLCs up to one day in advance. A new conceptual model of the two different FLC regimes is developed to summarize findings and aid in future studies related to FLCs over Namib. In general, the scientific purpose is justified, the findings are important, and the paper is well-written; however, I do have concerns about some of the methods used. Overall, I think that the results are interesting and worthy of publication, and at this stage I suggest acceptance subject to major revisions. Major/general comments: 1. Use of MSLP, 2 m temperature, and 10 m winds to characterize synoptic-scale conditions This study relies on the assumption that near-surface (boundary layer) meteorological variables – specifically MSLP, 2 m temperature, and 10 m horizontal wind components – are representative of the large-scale dynamics.
    [Show full text]
  • Weather, Current and Routing Brief the Clipper 11/12 Round the World
    Weather, Current and Routing Brief The Clipper 11/12 Round the World Race Prepared for the Race Skippers by Simon Rowell 27th April 2011 1. Leg One - Europe to Rio de Janeiro (early August to mid September) 4 1.1. The Route 4 1.2. The Weather 6 1.2.1. The Iberian Peninsula to the Canaries 6 1.2.2. The Canaries 10 1.2.3. The Canaries to the ITCZ, via the Cape Verdes 11 1.2.4. The ITCZ in the Atlantic 13 1.2.5. The ITCZ to Cabo Frio 16 1.3. Currents 18 1.3.1. The Iberian Peninsula to the Equator 18 1.3.2. The Equator to Rio 20 2. Leg 2 – Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town (mid September to mid October) 22 2.1. The Route 22 2.2. The Weather 22 2.3. Currents 27 3. Leg 3 – Cape Town to Western Australia (October to November) 29 3.1. The Route 29 3.2. The Weather 30 3.2.1. Southern Indian Ocean Fronts 34 3.3. Currents 35 3.3.1 Currents around the Aghulas Bank 35 3.3.2 Currents in the Southern Indian Ocean 37 4. Leg 4 –Western Australia to Wellington to Eastern Australia (mid November to December) 4.1. The Route 38 4.2. The Weather 39 4.2.1. Cape Leeuwin to Tasmania 39 4.2.2. Tasmania to Wellington and then to Gold Coast 43 4.3. Currents 47 5. Leg 5 – Gold Coast to Singapore to Qingdao (early January to end of February) 48 5.1.
    [Show full text]
  • North and South American Low-Level Jets
    American Low Level jetS A Scientific Prospectus and Implementation Plan North and South American Low-Level Jets Draft, March 2001 Prepared by Julia Nogues-Paegle and Jan Paegle (University of Utah, USA) with con- tributions from Michael Douglas (NOAA/NSSL, USA), Matilde Nicolini, Carolina Vera (University of Buenos Aires, Argentina), Jose Marengo (CPTEC, Brazil), Rene Garreaud (University of Chile, Chile), James Shuttleworth (University of Arizona, USA), C. Roberto Mechoso (UCLA, USA) and E. Hugo Berbery (University of Mary- land, USA). TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary 5 1. What is the ALLS program? 6 2. Why the American Jets? 9 3. Science Objectives 11 3.1 Identify LLJ events and variability 11 3.1.1. North America 11 3.1.2. South America 14 3.2 Quantify LLJ contributions to the hydrological cycle 16 3.2.1. North America 16 3.2.2. South America 17 3.3 Determine plateau effects 19 3.3.1. North America 19 3.3.2. South America 19 3.4 Develop and validate theories on LLJ generation and variability 21 3.4.1. North America 21 3.4.2. South America 22 3.4.3 Local and remote influences on ALLS in relation 23 to droughts and floods 4. Implementation Plan 26 4.1 Numerical Modelling 26 4.2 Diagnostic Studies 29 4.3 Field Component of ALLS 30 4.3.1. Region of focus for the ALLS South American Field Program 32 4.3.2. Radiosonde network 33 4.3.3. Pilot balloon observations 35 4.3.4. Wind profiler observations 35 4.3.5.
    [Show full text]
  • Identification of Processes Driving Low-Level Westerlies in West
    1JUNE 2014 P O K A M E T A L . 4245 Identification of Processes Driving Low-Level Westerlies in West Equatorial Africa WILFRIED M. POKAM Department of Physics, Higher Teacher Training College, University of Yaounde 1, and Center for International Forestry Research, Central Africa Regional Office, Yaounde, Cameroon CAROLINE L. BAIN,ROBIN S. CHADWICK, AND RICHARD GRAHAM Met Office Hadley Centre, Exeter, United Kingdom DENIS JEAN SONWA Center for International Forestry Research, Central Africa Regional Office, Yaounde, Cameroon FRANCOIS MKANKAM KAMGA University of Mountain, Bangangte, Cameroon (Manuscript received 8 August 2013, in final form 16 January 2014) ABSTRACT This paper investigates and characterizes the control mechanisms of the low-level circulation over west equatorial Africa (WEA) using four reanalysis datasets. Emphasis is placed on the contribution of the di- vergent and rotational circulation to the total flow. Additional focus is made on analyzing the zonal wind component, in order to gain insight into the processes that control the variability of the low-level westerlies (LLW) in the region. The results suggest that the control mechanisms differ north and south of 68N. In the north, the LLW are primarily a rotational flow forming part of the cyclonic circulation driven primarily by the heat low of the West African monsoon system. This northern branch of the LLW is well developed from June to August and disappears in December–February. South of 68N, the seasonal variability of the LLW is controlled by the heating contrast between cooling associated with subsidence over the ocean and heating over land regions largely south of the equator, where ascent prevails.
    [Show full text]
  • Grade 12 Geography Climatology Answer Book
    SECONDARY SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME (SSIP) 2019 REVISED GEOGRAPHY REVISED ANSWERBOOK CLIMATOLOGY ANSWER BOOK GRADE 12 TABLE OF CONTENTS SESSION TOPIC PAGE 1 MID-LATITUDE CYCLONE 2 TROPICAL CYCLONES 3 ANTICYCLONIC MOVEMENT OVER SA 4 MICROCLIMATE – VALLEY / URBAN CLIMATE AND WEATHER ANSWERS SESSION 1 - TOPIC 1: MID-LATITUDE CYCLONES ANSWERS FOR SECTION B: CAPS EXAM QUESTIONS ON MID-LATITUDE CYCLONES: CAPS QUESTIONS Midlatitude cyclone (November 2014) Answers 1.1. 1.1.1 Cyclone family (1)Family of depressions (1) 1.1.2.(a) showers warm air/sector cold r shape of front air/sector [ANY FOUR] (4 x 1) (4) (b) Decrease in temperature (2) Change in the wind direction (backing) (2) Heavy rainfall with thunder and lightning (2) Increase in air pressure (2) Increase in cloud cover (cumulonimbus clouds) (2) Increase in wind speed (2) Decrease in humidity (2) Possibility of snowfall (2) [ANY ONE] (1 x 2) (2) 1.1.3. Weather conditions and reasons Air temperature: 27°C (2) Cold air descending from the high pressure warms adiabatically to create a high temperature on the surface (2) Dew point temperature: -12°C (2) Dry area/winter therefore less evaporation (2) Subsiding air reduces humidity (2) Wind direction: NW/WNW (2) Air diverging in an anticlockwise direction around the high pressure (2) Wind speed: 5 knots (2) Gentle pressure gradient (the isobars are far apart) (2) Cloud cover: (1/8) (2) Very little cloud cover as the area is dry and had low levels of moisture (2) Subsiding air heats up and does not condense (2) Low relative humidity (2) Precipitation No precipitation (2) Subsiding air does not condense (2) Limited cloud cover (2) Large difference between air temperature and dew point temperature (2) [ANY TWO WEATHER CONDITIONS AND REASONS] (4 x 2) (8) 2015 Feb 2.1 2.1.1.
    [Show full text]
  • Conditions Which Produce Them, and Their Effect on Agriculture
    HOT WAYES: CONDITIONS WHICH PRODUCE THEM, AND THEIR EFFECT ON AGRICULTURE. By ALVIN T. BURROWS, Observer, Weather Bureau. GENERAL REMARKS ON DAMAGE CAUSED BY HOT WAVES. Of all adverse weather conditions, those accompanying periods of long-continued high temperature are perhaps the most detrimental to man's mental, physical, and financial welfare. A summer hailstorm may destroy considerable property over a limited area, a high wind may cause damage of more serious nature, and a tornado is still more destructive to propert}^ and is usually accompanied by loss of human life; but all these are local in their effect, and their duration is only for a short period. Even a hurricane sweeping up from the West Indies, carrying death and devastation in its path, affects but a relativ^ely small portion of the United States; a general hot wave, hovv^ever, with its blighting and death-dealing temperatures, leaves a trail of ruin so widespread and so great that it can not be accurately measured. To be sure, estimates can be made of the injury to growing crops, and these alone make an astounding figure. The loss to the State of Iowa on account of a hot wave which visited that section in the latter part of Jul}^ and early portion of August, 1894, amounted to over 150,000,000, ^ a property loss nearly twice as great as that caused by the Galveston hurricane in 1900; and these are the figures for only one State. As for the suffering undergone by the millions of humanity day after day in these hot-wave periods, there is no record, nor is one possible.
    [Show full text]
  • Download the Note
    LESSON 3: AFRICA’S CLIMATE REGIONS Key Concepts You must know, or be able to do the following: Name, understand the characteristics and position of Africa’s major climate regions Be able to link the African Continent circulation to Global Tri-cellular circulation with particular reference to areas of uplift (rain) and subsidence (dry) Identify the major ocean currents around Africa and the influence on climate control over Africa Fully understand the processes of El Nino and La Nina and their effects on African climate Be able to interpret synoptic charts of South Africa with special reference to air movements, interpretation of station models and the dominant pattern of High Pressures that affect the climate. Much of this is a recap from Grade 10. X-PLANATION Characteristics and Position of Africa’s Major Climate Regions Africa’s position is relatively unique in the sense that it almost has a mirror image of climate zones to the north and South of the Equator with regard to latitude. The six main climate zones of Africa are found to the north and south of the equator, namely, Equatorial, Humid Tropical, Tropical, Semi- desert (Sahalian), Mediterranean and Desert. A climate region is an area with similar temperature and rainfall. In Grade 10, you learnt about several factors that influence the climate of different places in the world. These are: Latitudinal position Altitude Distance from the sea Prevalent pressure belts Ocean currents. Considering this, Africa has a large variety of different climates. 1 Map of Africa Climate
    [Show full text]
  • Meteorologically Driven Trends in Sea Level Rise Alexander S
    GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 34, L23616, doi:10.1029/2007GL031814, 2007 Click Here for Full Article Meteorologically driven trends in sea level rise Alexander S. Kolker1 and Sultan Hameed2 Received 24 August 2007; revised 10 October 2007; accepted 6 November 2007; published 15 December 2007. [1] Determining the rate of global sea level rise (GSLR) changes in the rate of rise. The cause of this variability is during the past century is critical to understanding recent largely unknown, although it has been linked to storms, changes to the global climate system. However, this is winds and floods [Zhang et al., 2000], wind driven Rossby complicated by non-tidal, short-term, local sea-level waves [Hong et al., 2000], shifts in major ocean currents variability that is orders of magnitude greater than the such as the Gulf Stream [Emery and Aubrey, 1991], volca- trend. While the non-dimensional North Atlantic Oscillation nically induced ocean heat content variations [Church et al., (NAO) index can explain some of this variability in the 2005], and in the Pacific Ocean, the El Nino Southern Atlantic, significant results have been largely restricted to Oscillation [Douglas, 2001]. Rates of relative sea-level rise Europe. We show that dimensional indices of the position and (RSLR) in the coastal zone are more variable, both spatially intensity of the atmospheric centers of action (COAs) and temporally, than rates of GSLR. They range from À10 comprising the NAO are correlated with a major fraction of to +10 mm/yr [Douglas, 2001], with differences often the variability and trend at 5 Atlantic Ocean tide gauges since ascribed to factors including subsidence, uplift, tectonics, 1900.
    [Show full text]
  • Forecasting Mesoscale Convective Complex Movement in Central South America
    FORECASTING MESOSCALE CONVECTIVE COMPLEX MOVEMENT IN CENTRAL SOUTH AMERICA Marc R. Gasbarro 551 st Electronic Systems Wing Electronic Systems Center Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts Ronald P. Lowther Air and Space Science Directorate Air Force Weather Agency Offutt AFB, Nebraska Stephen F. Corfidi NOANNational Weather Service Storm Prediction Center Norman, Oklahoma Abstract 1. Introduction A method for operationally predicting the movement Mesoscale convective complexes (MCCs) are respon­ of the centroid, or coldest cloud tops, of mesoscale con­ sible for producing severe weather and flooding rains vective complexes (MCCs) in Central South America in Central South America (CSA). This region includes (CSA) is presented (Gasbarro 2003). The procedure of Paraguay, Uruguay, Northern Argentina, and predicting the movement of an MCC centroid, which Southeastern Brazil (Velasco and Fritsch 1987). They primarily relates to the area of heaviest precipitation are responsible for producing damaging winds, hail, within the MCC, is modified from the work ofCorfidi et injuries, and occasionally even deaths. Furthermore, al. (1996). * This process is based on the concept that the MCCs significantly change and/or influence upper­ motion of quasi-stationary or backward-propagating atmospheric wind fields, presenting problems with convective systems can be found as the sum of the aviation safety and efficiency problems with flight advective component, defined by the mean motion of the scheduling (CFM96). In addition, the sparse data net­ cells comprising the system, and the propagation com­ work of South America (SA) further adds to the diffi­ ponent, defined by the rate and location of new cell for­ culty of accurately forecasting MCC movement due to mation relative to existing cells.
    [Show full text]