Using the quasigeostrophic potential vorticity height tendency equation to diagnose the development of midtropospheric mobile troughs /
The purpose of this research was to develop a technique to quantify the intensification mechanisms present in the development of midtropospheric mobile troughs. Mobile troughs are generally considered precursors to ntidlatitude cyclogenesis. The midlatitude cyclones are the primary sources of syno...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
1995.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=742161831&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | The purpose of this research was to develop a technique to quantify the intensification mechanisms present in the development of midtropospheric mobile troughs. Mobile troughs are generally considered precursors to ntidlatitude cyclogenesis. The midlatitude cyclones are the primary sources of synoptic scale weather patterns. The overall project was separated into three tasks: a description of trough development characteristics, the construction of the diagnostic framework, and the demonstration of the diagnostic technique using a mobile trough. The description of mobile trough development characteristics was accomplished by compiling a 20-year climatology of the frequency of mobile trough genesis and termination over the northern hemisphere. The climatology used an objective trough tracking technique based on the relationship between midtropospheric mobile troughs and the maximum transport of geostrophic curvature vorticity. The geographical shape of trough genesis and termination regions are associated with orography. The quantitative technique used to diagnose the dynan-tical mechanisms responsible for mobile troughs was based on the quasigeostrophic potential vorticity (QGPV) geopotential height tendency equation. The piecewise inversion of QGPV advection was used to recover the associated height tendency (intensification). The trough initially developed due to the transport of kinetic energy from upstream disturbances (downstream development). Baroclinic processes were not present during the genesis, but participated later in the development. The deformation of QGPV also contributed to the intensification, but was mainly a factor in the decay. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Meteorology". |
| Physical Description: | xii, 220 leaves : illustrations, maps ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilms Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |