The air masses that affect Fairbanks, Alaska is the maritime (m) polar (P) or mP, and the continental (c) polar (P) or cP. The mP drops by in the winter, blowing cool, humid air from the ocean into the state. This air mass causes a warm-type occluded front. The warm-type occluded front carries with it cool air from the Pacific Ocean gently nudging the cold air originating over the continent. This pushes the warm air aloft and forms precipitation.[1] There is also an air mass that originates over the state of Alaska called the continental polar (cP). This air mass is dry, and cold. It forms at the end of winter when it packs its bags full of cold, dry weather and travels out of Alaska to visit the United States along the Rockies.
Surface maps, similar to below, illustrated a cold and occluded front taking place around Alaska. They will be encountering a cold front coming in from the north heading south. Also, on Sunday the 30th the beginning occlusion cyclonic circulation over the Aleutian Islands will be moving northeast into the state bringing precipitation.
(updating images provided by Mountain Weather http://www.mountainweather.com/index.php?page=alaska_weather)
The Aleutian Low is a semi-permanent pressure system near the Aleutian Islands. Its crazy intensity in the winter creates strong traveling cyclones. These types of storms cause cold winds to roll down from the Arctic poles and circulate over the continent—burr. In a ‘positive phase’ oscillation, high pressure moves ocean storms farther towards the arctic providing a messy,wet system over the State of Alaska.[2]
Surface maps, similar to below, illustrated a cold and occluded front taking place around Alaska. They will be encountering a cold front coming in from the north heading south. Also, on Sunday the 30th the beginning occlusion cyclonic circulation over the Aleutian Islands will be moving northeast into the state bringing precipitation.
(updating images provided by Mountain Weather http://www.mountainweather.com/index.php?page=alaska_weather)
[1] Lutgens, Frederick K., Edward J. Tarbuck, and Dennis Tasa. "Air Masses." The Atmosphere: an Introduction to Meteorology. 11th ed. New York: Prentice Hall, 2010. 248. Print.
[2] The Arctic Oscillation and Arctic Weather Patterns." National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). Web. <http://nsidc.org/arcticmet/patterns/arctic_oscillation.html>.
No comments:
Post a Comment