Mesoscale meteorology is the study of weather systems smaller than synoptic scale systems but larger than microscale and storm-scale cumulus systems. Horizontal dimensions generally range from around 5 kilometers to several hundred kilometers. Examples of mesoscale weather systems are sea breezes, squall lines, and mesoscale convective complexes.
A meso-beta scale vortex
Vertical velocity often equals or exceeds horizontal velocities in mesoscale meteorological systems due to nonhydrostatic processes such as buoyant acceleration of a rising thermal or acceleration through a narrow mountain pass.
Mesoscale Meteorology is divided into these subclasses:[1]
Meso-alpha 200–2000 km scale of phenomena like fronts, squall lines, mesoscale convective systems (MCS), tropical cyclones at the edge of synoptic scale
Meso-beta 20–200 km scale of phenomena like sea breezes, lake effect snow storms
Meso-gamma 2–20 km scale of phenomena like thunderstorm convection, complex terrain flows (at the edge to microscale, also known as storm-scale)
As a note, tropical and subtropical cyclones are classified by National Hurricane Center as synoptic scale rather than mesoscale.[2]
Mesoscale boundaries
As in synoptic frontal analysis, mesoscale analysis uses cold, warm, and occluded fronts on the mesoscale to help describe phenomena. On weather maps mesoscale fronts are depicted as smaller and with twice as many bumps or spikes as the synoptic variety. In the United States, opposition to the use of the mesoscale versions of fronts on weather analyses, has led to the use of an overarching symbol (a trough symbol) with a label of outflow boundary as the frontal notation.[3]
^Orlanski, I. (1975). "A rational subdivision of scales for atmospheric processes" (PDF). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 56 (5): 527–530.
Fujita, T.T. (1986). "Mesoscale classifications: their history and their application to forecasting". In Ray, P.S. (ed.). Mesoscale Meteorology and Forecasting. Boston: American Meteorological Society. pp. 18–35.
mesoscale, meteorology, study, weather, systems, smaller, than, synoptic, scale, systems, larger, than, microscale, storm, scale, cumulus, systems, horizontal, dimensions, generally, range, from, around, kilometers, several, hundred, kilometers, examples, meso. Mesoscale meteorology is the study of weather systems smaller than synoptic scale systems but larger than microscale and storm scale cumulus systems Horizontal dimensions generally range from around 5 kilometers to several hundred kilometers Examples of mesoscale weather systems are sea breezes squall lines and mesoscale convective complexes A meso beta scale vortex Vertical velocity often equals or exceeds horizontal velocities in mesoscale meteorological systems due to nonhydrostatic processes such as buoyant acceleration of a rising thermal or acceleration through a narrow mountain pass Contents 1 Subclasses 2 Mesoscale boundaries 3 See also 4 ReferencesSubclasses EditMesoscale Meteorology is divided into these subclasses 1 Meso alpha 200 2000 km scale of phenomena like fronts squall lines mesoscale convective systems MCS tropical cyclones at the edge of synoptic scale Meso beta 20 200 km scale of phenomena like sea breezes lake effect snow storms Meso gamma 2 20 km scale of phenomena like thunderstorm convection complex terrain flows at the edge to microscale also known as storm scale As a note tropical and subtropical cyclones are classified by National Hurricane Center as synoptic scale rather than mesoscale 2 Mesoscale boundaries EditAs in synoptic frontal analysis mesoscale analysis uses cold warm and occluded fronts on the mesoscale to help describe phenomena On weather maps mesoscale fronts are depicted as smaller and with twice as many bumps or spikes as the synoptic variety In the United States opposition to the use of the mesoscale versions of fronts on weather analyses has led to the use of an overarching symbol a trough symbol with a label of outflow boundary as the frontal notation 3 See also EditMicroscale meteorology Misoscale meteorology POLYGON experiment Surface weather analysis Synoptic scale meteorologyReferences Edit Orlanski I 1975 A rational subdivision of scales for atmospheric processes PDF Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 56 5 527 530 Glossary of NHC Terms Roth David Unified Surface Analysis Manual PDF Hydrometeorological Prediction Center Retrieved 2006 10 24 Fujita T T 1986 Mesoscale classifications their history and their application to forecasting In Ray P S ed Mesoscale Meteorology and Forecasting Boston American Meteorological Society pp 18 35 This climatology meteorology related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mesoscale meteorology amp oldid 1077458465, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
