figure 11. adapted from the course materials of Dr. Owen Thompson,
University of Maryland
The cycle shown in figure 11 is idealized and occurs in many different permutations
with a variety of regional effects. At any given time, several examples of the process
can be observed on GOES images (figure 12).
figure 12. GOES image, May 15, 1994, containing several cyclones,
image courtesy of M. Ramamurt h y, University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign
Waves in the Mid-latitude Westerly Flowbaroclinic stability
straight Westerly winds
do not efficiently
transport energy
poleward. The
latitudinal
temperature
gradient will
build up.baroclinic instability
Meandering, wavy westerly
winds will yield large-scale
exchanges of warm and
cold air, thus transporting
energy poleward. As
energy is transported
poleward, the
latitudinal
temperature
gradient will
lower.
40°Nequatorcoldcoldwarmwarmcyclone 3 cyclone 2 cyclone 1