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Upper-Air WindsUpper-Air Winds• • Flow of air at altitudes above 5000 meters (16,500 ft)Flow of air at altitudes above 5000 meters (16,500 ft)• • Found in the upper troposphereFound in the upper troposphere• • A response to the temperature difference between warm tropical A response to the temperature difference between warm tropical air and cold polar airair and cold polar air• • Affect the formation, movement, and decay of surface cyclones Affect the formation, movement, and decay of surface cyclones and anticyclonesand anticyclones• • Far less complex than the surface wind circulationFar less complex than the surface wind circulation
• • Poleward of 15˚-20˚ there is a Poleward of 15˚-20˚ there is a pronounced westward flow of air known as pronounced westward flow of air known as the upper air westerliesthe upper air westerlies· · a broad circumpolara broad circumpolar flow of flow of westerly windswesterly winds· move much more· move much more rapidly than the rapidly than the surface counterparts surface counterparts· strongest in winter (the low-sun season)· strongest in winter (the low-sun season)· much weaker during the summer (the high-sun season)· much weaker during the summer (the high-sun season)
Jet streamsJet streams• • very strong air currentsvery strong air currents• • embedded within the upper air westerliesembedded within the upper air westerlies• • polar jet streampolar jet stream · located where the warm tropical air meets cold polar air· located where the warm tropical air meets cold polar air · ranges from 40 to 160 km (25-100 mi) wide and…· ranges from 40 to 160 km (25-100 mi) wide and…
up to 2 or 3 km (1- 2 mi) deepup to 2 or 3 km (1- 2 mi) deep
• • Subtropical jet streamSubtropical jet stream· · flows above the sinking air of the subtropical highsflows above the sinking air of the subtropical highs· best developed in winter when their is the steepest · best developed in winter when their is the steepest pressure gradientpressure gradient· often the subtropical· often the subtropical jet stream completely jet stream completely
disappears in the disappears in the summer summer
• • Usually the upper air westerlies, and polar Usually the upper air westerlies, and polar jet stream, flow in a fairly smooth patternjet stream, flow in a fairly smooth pattern
• • Oscillations termed Rossby waves Oscillations termed Rossby waves periodically develop periodically develop· · cold polar air pushes into the lower latitudes cold polar air pushes into the lower latitudes forming troughs of low pressureforming troughs of low pressure· surface weather· surface weather is most influenced is most influenced under under thesethese conditions conditions
· · the oscillations can become so extreme that the oscillations can become so extreme that they become cut off they become cut off· · the cells eventually dissipate, and the pattern returns to the cells eventually dissipate, and the pattern returns to normalnormal· a complete cycle takes 4 to 8 weeks· a complete cycle takes 4 to 8 weeks· unusually warm· unusually warm or cold ocean or cold ocean
currents seem to currents seem to trigger the trigger the oscillations oscillations