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Cloud dynamics and mesoscale meteorology bill cotton
Mesoscale meteorology is the study of weather systems smaller than synoptic scale systems but larger than microscale and storm-scale cumulus systems. Horizontal dimensions generally range from around 5 kilometers to several hundred kilometers. Examples of mesoscale weather systems are sea breezes, squall lines, and mesoscale convective complexes.
Contents
- Cloud dynamics and mesoscale meteorology bill cotton
- Atmospheric convection and mesoscale meteorology dick johnsonshort
- Subclasses
- Mesoscale boundaries
- References
Vertical velocity often equals or exceeds horizontal velocities in mesoscale meteorological systems due to nonhydrostatic processes such as buoyant acceleration of a rising thermal or acceleration through a narrow mountain pass.
Atmospheric convection and mesoscale meteorology dick johnsonshort
Subclasses
Mesoscale Meteorology is divided into these subclasses:
As a note, tropical and subtropical cyclones are classified by National Hurricane Center as synoptic scale rather than mesoscale.
Mesoscale boundaries
As in synoptic frontal analysis, mesoscale analysis uses cold, warm, and occluded fronts on the mesoscale to help describe phenomena. On weather maps mesoscale fronts are depicted as smaller and with twice as many bumps or spikes as the synoptic variety. In the United States, opposition to the use of the mesoscale versions of fronts on weather analyses, has led to the use of an overarching symbol (a trough symbol) with a label of outflow boundary as the frontal notation.