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Extreme Events in Climatology
Extreme Events in Climatology
HurricanesThunderstorms
TornadoesDroughts
Glaciations
HurricanesThunderstorms
TornadoesDroughts
Glaciations
Glaciations 1-30 kyrs
Extreme events in the atmosphere rival those in the geosphere They are much more mobile than events like earthquakes
affect large geographical areasand have dramatic consequences on the biosphere
severe storms or perturbations in “normal” patterns
Can cause extreme hardship on living thingsCan lead to widespread alteration of other natural systems
soil loss, increased soil development, weathering, flooding, landslides, erosion…
Extreme events in the atmosphere rival those in the geosphere They are much more mobile than events like earthquakes
affect large geographical areasand have dramatic consequences on the biosphere
severe storms or perturbations in “normal” patterns
Can cause extreme hardship on living thingsCan lead to widespread alteration of other natural systems
soil loss, increased soil development, weathering, flooding, landslides, erosion…
Tropical cyclones (Hurricanes or Typhoons)
Occur in the tropics
Are cyclones - circulation around a low pressure center
Counter clockwise rotation in Northern hemisphere driven by coriolis force
Require warm temperatures and adequate air motion to generate
Tropical cyclones (Hurricanes or Typhoons)
Occur in the tropics
Are cyclones - circulation around a low pressure center
Counter clockwise rotation in Northern hemisphere driven by coriolis force
Require warm temperatures and adequate air motion to generate
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Areas of warm water coincide with hurricane genesisAreas of warm water coincide with hurricane genesis
Warm oceans north and south of the equator spawn hurricanesWarm oceans north and south of the equator spawn hurricanes
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Hurricane paths
note the absence along the equator
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Hurricane Andrew out at sea
Hurricane Andrew approaches Florida
Hurricane categories and criteria
Single cell Multicell cluster
Multicell line Supercell
Weak to strong updrafts(non-severe)
Weak to strong updrafts (non-severe)
moderate to severe updrafts (severe)
Intensely strong to severe Mesocyclonic rotation present(severe)
Slight threat Moderate threat
Moderate threat High threat
Small areal coverage
Small-Moderate areal coverage
Moderate to large areal coverage
Thunderstorm types
Severe = <58 MPH wind, hail, and tornadoes
Non-severe = >58 MPH wind, lightning, rain
Severe = <58 MPH wind, hail, and tornadoes
Non-severe = >58 MPH wind, lightning, rain
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A single cell thunderstorm
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Multicell thunderstorms- cellularMulticell thunderstorms- cellular
Multicell thunderstorms- linearMulticell thunderstorms- linear
Squall lines and Thunderstorms
Squall lines are a line of severe thunderstorm cells, associated with a cold front.
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Direction of line movement
Direction of line movement
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Animation of a developing squall line
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Supercell development involves rotation
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Anatomy of a supercell thunderstorm
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Supercell in NSW AustraliaSupercell in NSW Australia
Tornadoes, Waterspouts, Landspouts (aka Dustdevils)
All involve rotational motion
Some waterspouts and landspouts can come from the ground (water) up
Tornadoes and some waterspouts come from the cloud down
The US leads the world in tornadoes averaging 1000 per year
Tornadoes, Waterspouts, Landspouts (aka Dustdevils)
All involve rotational motion
Some waterspouts and landspouts can come from the ground (water) up
Tornadoes and some waterspouts come from the cloud down
The US leads the world in tornadoes averaging 1000 per year
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Dust DevilsCaused by intense heating
Dust DevilsCaused by intense heating
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Droughts
By definition, a deficit in the water budget for a given region
Can be related to global circulation, regional circulation, or local conditions
Ground dries out, soil blows away, nothing grows
Example “The Dust Bowl” in the 1930’s
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Dust Bowl- ca. 1933
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Dust Bowl- ca. 1935
PDSI- Palmer Drought Severity IndexPDSI- Palmer Drought Severity Index
GlaciationDriven by Milankovitch orbital variations
Eccentricity, Obliquity and PrecessionFacilitated by feedback loops in Earth’s atmosphere and hydrosphere
oceanic and atmospheric circulation patterns change, making things colderResults in snow and ice lasting the year
Lasts 10’s of thousands of yearsa lot of retreats and advances
Last glaciation was called the Wisconsinan
occurred from 60-15 kya
GlaciationDriven by Milankovitch orbital variations
Eccentricity, Obliquity and PrecessionFacilitated by feedback loops in Earth’s atmosphere and hydrosphere
oceanic and atmospheric circulation patterns change, making things colderResults in snow and ice lasting the year
Lasts 10’s of thousands of yearsa lot of retreats and advances
Last glaciation was called the Wisconsinan
occurred from 60-15 kya
Glaciers, droughts, and tropical storm frequency all have identifiable effects on the natural world
rivers adjustsoils erode or formvegetation changeslakes form or dry up
These meteorological features are extremely sensitiveThis makes them good things to study for identifying elements of past, present and future climate change
Glaciers, droughts, and tropical storm frequency all have identifiable effects on the natural world
rivers adjustsoils erode or formvegetation changeslakes form or dry up
These meteorological features are extremely sensitiveThis makes them good things to study for identifying elements of past, present and future climate change