Section 7.1 Cyclogenesis
NOAA Jetstream: https://www.weather.gov/jetstream/cyclone
How do fronts move? Often connected to pressure lows known as midlatitude cyclones (or extratropical cyclone); Benjamin Franklin correctly determined that the surface winds of a storm system were only incidental to the forward movement of the storm;
Norwegian Cyclone Model:
First proposed by Jack Bjerknes in the 1920s (Bergen, Norway).
Note: we now understand that upper-air conditions must be favorable; this is more likely to develop just east of a trough (where we have diffluence).
low pressure develops along a stationary frontal boundary: specifically, the "polar front" dividing mid-latitude air masses from colder polar air masses. Idealized would be mT and cP air masses.
the birth of a cyclone is the formation of a frontal wave: a slight bend in the front; warm air tends to move northward and cold air moves southward around a developing pressure low
the wave intensifies and the two fronts become better organized in an open wave pattern
the wave becomes a mature low pressure center with cyclone flow; because the cold front moves faster than the warm front, it will overtake it and produce an occluded front
eventually the occlusion increases and the cold air cuts off the supply of warm air completely from the low pressure center, leading to dissipation
All of this takes place over the course of several days as the entire cyclone moves eastward
Some Examples of common types…
-
Alberta Clippers
fast moving and usually don't have too much precip associated with them because they are far from a moisture source
-
Colorado Low
intense low, with strong warm air advection in the warm sector, very cold temps in the cold sector. If there is a lot of gulf moisture to work with, they there is usually sleet, freezing rain and rain associated with the warm front, strong thunderstorms along the southern edge of the cold front and snow along the backside and to the NW of the Low (even blizzards)