Mesoscale meteorology

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Mesoscale Meteorology refers to weather systems smaller than synoptic scale systems but larger than storm-scale cumulus systems. Horizontal dimensions generally range from around 50 miles to several hundred miles. Squall lines, Mesoscale Convective Complexes, and Mesoscale Convective Systems are examples of mesoscale weather systems.

Mesoscale, is sub-Synoptic scale (that is larger than the Microscale).

1 Subclasses
2 Mesoscale boundaries
3 See also
4 References
- 4.1 World Wide Web
- 4.2 Books and Publications
5 External links

[edit] Subclasses

Mesoscale Meteorology is divided into these subclasses (Orlanski, 1975):

Meso-gamma 2-20 km, deals with phenomena like thunderstorm convection, complex terrain flows (at the edge to micro-scale, also known as storm-scale)

Meso-beta 20-200 km deals with phenomena like sea breezes, lake effect snow storms

Meso-alpha 200-2000 km fronts, deals with phenomena like squall lines, mesoscale convective systems (MCS), tropical cyclones at the edge of synoptic scale

Vertical velocity often matches or exceeds horizontal velocities in Mesoscale Meteorological systems due to nonhydrostatic processes.

[edit] Mesoscale boundaries

Just like in synoptic frontal analysis, literature concerning mesoscale analysis uses cold, warm, and occluded fronts on the mesoscale to help describe what is currently occurring. They differ from the synoptic variety by having twice as many bumps or spikes, which are depicted smaller as well. In the United States, there has been opposition to the use of the mesoscale versions of fronts on weather analyses, so an overarching symbol (a trough symbol) with a label of outflow boundary is used instead of the frontal notation.^[1]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] World Wide Web

^ David Roth. Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Unified Surface Analysis Manual. Retrieved on 2006-10-24.

[edit] Books and Publications

Orlanski, I., 1975: A rational subdivision of scales for atmospheric processes. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 56(5), 527-530.

Fujita, T. T., 1986. Mesoscale classifications: their history and their application to forecasting, in Ray, P. S., ed., Mesoscale Meteorology and Forecasting: American Meteorological Society, Boston, p. 18-35. [presented 1984; published 1986]