Storms, Jetstreams, and Polar Vortex13

Weather definition

Atmospheric conditions observed over a short period (minutes to months).

Climate definition

Atmospheric behavior quantified over long periods (years to decades).

Onshore breeze timing

Occurs during the day when land warms faster than the ocean.

Offshore breeze timing

Occurs at night when land cools faster than the ocean.

Monsoon definition

A seasonal reversal of regional wind patterns yielding dry winters and wet summers.

Summer monsoon precipitable water

Skyrockets up to 70 kg/m².

Winter monsoon precipitable water

Measures around 0.5 kg/m².

Global monsoon driver

Seasonal North-to-South migration of the ITCZ between the tropics.

Jetstream altitude and location

Found at mid-latitudes at approximately 10 km high.

Polar vortex stable state

Fast, uniform wind flow keeping freezing Arctic air contained north.

Polar vortex disrupted state

Wavy path allowing warm air north and cold Arctic air south.

Warm front slope and rain

Long, gentle slope creating a wide band of steady rain.

Cold front slope and storms

Steep, vertical wedge creating sudden storms and intense rain.

Extratropical storm shape

Shaped like a sweeping comma.

Tropical storm shape

Symmetrical and completely round.

Extratropical storm fuel

Baroclinicity (massive pressure and temperature differences).

Tropical storm fuel

Warm water and the release of latent heat.

Hurricane wind threshold

Sustained winds must exceed 120 km/h (75 mph).

Hurricane water temp requirement

Warm sea surface temperatures of at least 25°C (77°F).

Hurricane origin force

The spinning force of the Coriolis Effect.

Hurricane primary engine energy

The release of latent heat.

Hurricane internal braking system

Upwelling of cold deep-sea water.

Initial hurricane steering winds

Pushed from east to west by global Trade Winds.

Saffir-Simpson scale basis

Categorized strictly based on peak wind speed metrics.

Rapid intensification definition

Wind speeds surge by at least 35 mph within 24 hours.

Costliest and deadliest US hurricane

Hurricane Katrina (August 2005).

Most intense Atlantic basin hurricane

Hurricane Wilma (October 2005).