Lab 2

1
Lab 2

• 3-D Atmospheric Structure

Presented by Pete Stamus Tues Wed, 9 10 May
2000 Hydromet 00-3
2
Lab 2 3-D Atmospheric Structure

• Provided
• 1. 1200 UTC, 13 March 1993 250 mb plots and
  heights
• 2. 1200 UTC, 13 March 1993 500 mb plots,
  heights, and isotherms
• 3. 1200 UTC, 13 March 1993 700 mb plots,
  heights, and isotherms
• 4. 1200 UTC, 13 March 1993 850 mb plots and
  isotherms
• 5. 1200 UTC, 13 March 1993 Surface iostherms
• Action
• 1. Shade in areas colder than
• a. -50 C at 250 mb
• b. -30 C at 500 mb
• c. -15 C at 700 mb
• d. -10 C at 850 mb
• e. 35 F at the surface
• 2. Mark an X at the furtherest southeastward
  extent of the shaded area at each of the five
  levels.
• 3. Draw arrows to show the flow of air on the
  700 mb map. Do the same on surface map you
  analyzed in Lab 1.

3
Lab 2 3-D Atmospheric Structure (cont.)

• Discussion
• a. With respect to the 3-D thermal structure,
  what can be said about troughs in the
  troposphere?
• b. What can be said about the change of pressure
  with height in the coldest air versus the
  warmest air?
• c. Where is the most dense air? What pressure
  tendency is occurring at the surface there?
• d. What can be said about the relationship
  between the 700 mb wind velocity (direction and
  speed) and the height contours at that level?
• e. How about the relationship between the
  surface winds relative to the isobars?

4
13 Mar 1993 1200 UTC 250 mb plot ETA 250
mb heights (m)
5
13 Mar 1993 1200 UTC 250 mb plot ETA 250
mb heights (m)
6
13 Mar 1993 1200 UTC 500 mb plot ETA 500 mb
Temp analysis (deg C)
7
13 Mar 1993 1200 UTC 500 mb plot ETA 500 mb
Temp analysis (deg C)
8
13 Mar 1993 1200 UTC 500 mb plot ETA 500
mb heights (m)
9
13 Mar 1993 1200 UTC 500 mb plot ETA 500
mb heights (m)
10
13 Mar 1993 1200 UTC 700 mb plot ETA 700
mb Temp analysis (deg C)
11
13 Mar 1993 1200 UTC 700 mb plot ETA 700
mb Temp analysis (deg C)
12
13 Mar 1993 1200 UTC 700 mb plot ETA 700
mb heights (m)
13
13 Mar 1993 1200 UTC 700 mb plot ETA 700
mb heights (m)
14
13 Mar 1993 1200 UTC 850 mb plot ETA 850
mb Temp Analysis (deg C)
15
13 Mar 1993 1200 UTC 850 mb plot ETA 850
mb Temp Analysis (deg C)
16
13 Mar 1993 1200 UTC ETA Surface Temp
Analysis (deg F)
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13 Mar 1993 1200 UTC ETA Surface Temp
Analysis (deg F)