1fs. Air Mass Weather: Oppressive Heat and HumidityMaritime tropical
air can extend far beyond its source region to bring hot humid
conditions far inland and away from regions that we would normally
consider tropical. The second half of August 2013 saw such an event
occur. As shown in Figure 9-1-1, on August 27 temperatures exceeded 37.8
°C (100 °F) in Nebraska and South Dakota, with temperatures nearly as
high across much of the north-central United States. More impressively
perhaps is the way temperatures remained very warm into the morning
hours, with Minneapolis, Minnesota, having a minimum temperature of 26.1
°C (79 °F)—10.6 °C (19 °F) above normal for that date. At the same
time, coastal Southern California experienced humidities that reminded
many residents of the weather they experienced in the more humid
East.Why such muggy conditions? The answer is easily explained by
referring to the 500 mb map in Figure 9-1-2. Recall from Chapter 4 that
airflow in the midtroposphere moves nearly parallel to the height
contours. Thus, in late August midtropospheric air circulated clockwise
around the large high-pressure system over the central United States.
The air gained heat and moisture over the Gulf of Mexico, giving it the
classic properties of maritime tropical (mT) air. The clockwise
circulation transported the warm humid air as far west as southern
California before turning it northward and eastward toward the
north-central United States. In addition to the high daytime
temperatures, little cooling occurred at night because water vapor is an
effective absorber of outgoing longwave radiation (Chapter 3).Events
such as these do more than cause physical discomfort; they can have
significant impacts on normal day-to-day activities and long-term
conditions. This particular heat wave occurred as many city schools
across the central United States were set to open. Some without air
conditioning cancelled classes for several days. The heat also put
additional stress on crops growing in a region that had already been
under drought conditions for some time. The resultant increase in the
intensity and areal extent of an ongoing drought led to-an increase in
corn and soybean prices on the commodity exchanges. But of course these
consequences pale in comparison to the significant increase in mortality
that occurs both in the United States and overseas during extended
outbreaks of hot, humid conditions accompanying summer air masses became
so humid and how the hot, humid conditions came to extend as far west
as southern California.FIGURE 9-1-1 Oppressive Heat. Maximum air
temperatures (°F) on August 27, 2013....FIGURE 9-1-2 Warm Humid Air. A
500 mb map for August 27, 2013...Describe an environmental impact of
this weather event that also had a significant economic impact. Get solution
2fs. Air Mass Weather: Oppressive Heat and HumidityMaritime tropical air can extend far beyond its source region to bring hot humid conditions far inland and away from regions that we would normally consider tropical. The second half of August 2013 saw such an event occur. As shown in Figure 9-1-1, on August 27 temperatures exceeded 37.8 °C (100 °F) in Nebraska and South Dakota, with temperatures nearly as high across much of the north-central United States. More impressively perhaps is the way temperatures remained very warm into the morning hours, with Minneapolis, Minnesota, having a minimum temperature of 26.1 °C (79 °F)—10.6 °C (19 °F) above normal for that date. At the same time, coastal Southern California experienced humidities that reminded many residents of the weather they experienced in the more humid East.Why such muggy conditions? The answer is easily explained by referring to the 500 mb map in Figure 9-1-2. Recall from Chapter 4 that airflow in the midtroposphere moves nearly parallel to the height contours. Thus, in late August midtropospheric air circulated clockwise around the large high-pressure system over the central United States. The air gained heat and moisture over the Gulf of Mexico, giving it the classic properties of maritime tropical (mT) air. The clockwise circulation transported the warm humid air as far west as southern California before turning it northward and eastward toward the north-central United States. In addition to the high daytime temperatures, little cooling occurred at night because water vapor is an effective absorber of outgoing longwave radiation (Chapter 3).Events such as these do more than cause physical discomfort; they can have significant impacts on normal day-to-day activities and long-term conditions. This particular heat wave occurred as many city schools across the central United States were set to open. Some without air conditioning cancelled classes for several days. The heat also put additional stress on crops growing in a region that had already been under drought conditions for some time. The resultant increase in the intensity and areal extent of an ongoing drought led to-an increase in corn and soybean prices on the commodity exchanges. But of course these consequences pale in comparison to the significant increase in mortality that occurs both in the United States and overseas during extended outbreaks of hot, humid conditions accompanying summer air masses became so humid and how the hot, humid conditions came to extend as far west as southern California.FIGURE 9-1-1 Oppressive Heat. Maximum air temperatures (°F) on August 27, 2013....FIGURE 9-1-2 Warm Humid Air. A 500 mb map for August 27, 2013...Explain how the air mass over the central United States in August 2013 Get solution
2fs. Air Mass Weather: Oppressive Heat and HumidityMaritime tropical air can extend far beyond its source region to bring hot humid conditions far inland and away from regions that we would normally consider tropical. The second half of August 2013 saw such an event occur. As shown in Figure 9-1-1, on August 27 temperatures exceeded 37.8 °C (100 °F) in Nebraska and South Dakota, with temperatures nearly as high across much of the north-central United States. More impressively perhaps is the way temperatures remained very warm into the morning hours, with Minneapolis, Minnesota, having a minimum temperature of 26.1 °C (79 °F)—10.6 °C (19 °F) above normal for that date. At the same time, coastal Southern California experienced humidities that reminded many residents of the weather they experienced in the more humid East.Why such muggy conditions? The answer is easily explained by referring to the 500 mb map in Figure 9-1-2. Recall from Chapter 4 that airflow in the midtroposphere moves nearly parallel to the height contours. Thus, in late August midtropospheric air circulated clockwise around the large high-pressure system over the central United States. The air gained heat and moisture over the Gulf of Mexico, giving it the classic properties of maritime tropical (mT) air. The clockwise circulation transported the warm humid air as far west as southern California before turning it northward and eastward toward the north-central United States. In addition to the high daytime temperatures, little cooling occurred at night because water vapor is an effective absorber of outgoing longwave radiation (Chapter 3).Events such as these do more than cause physical discomfort; they can have significant impacts on normal day-to-day activities and long-term conditions. This particular heat wave occurred as many city schools across the central United States were set to open. Some without air conditioning cancelled classes for several days. The heat also put additional stress on crops growing in a region that had already been under drought conditions for some time. The resultant increase in the intensity and areal extent of an ongoing drought led to-an increase in corn and soybean prices on the commodity exchanges. But of course these consequences pale in comparison to the significant increase in mortality that occurs both in the United States and overseas during extended outbreaks of hot, humid conditions accompanying summer air masses became so humid and how the hot, humid conditions came to extend as far west as southern California.FIGURE 9-1-1 Oppressive Heat. Maximum air temperatures (°F) on August 27, 2013....FIGURE 9-1-2 Warm Humid Air. A 500 mb map for August 27, 2013...Explain how the air mass over the central United States in August 2013 Get solution
