1fs. The Pineapple ExpressMost precipitation along the west coast of
North America results from storms that cross the Pacific Ocean between
November and April, and most of these storms pass through the Gulf of
Alaska. Unlike the winter storms that affect the central part of Canada
and the United States, the Pacific storms are dominated by maritime
polar air, which seldom brings extremely low temperatures to the region,
Thus, the precipitation associated with them almost always occurs as
rain along the immediate coastal region and as rain or snow at inland
(especially high-elevation) locations.Importance to California of Winter
PrecipitationMountain snowpack is critical to every economic aspect of
California. The snow line (the elevation marking the change from rain to
snow) for winter storms depends on the temperature. It usually varies
between several hundred and a few thousand meters above sea level. The
colder the storm, the lower the snow line. Water is stored in the
watersheds as snow melts in the springtime and flows into the large
reservoir system that provides drinking water and the irrigation supply.
Precipitation that falls as rain evaporates more quickly than snow and
is more likely to be lost before it can replenish the reservoirs.Effects
of the Pineapple ExpressIn some years, the majority of Pacific storms
do not approach the West Coast from the northwest but instead travel
eastward from the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands along a plume of
moist, humid air. This storm track is referred to locally as the
Pineapple Express. When storms take this path repeatedly, as they did
during the El Niño winters of 1982-1983 and 1992-1993, the greatest
amounts of precipitation are concentrated farther to the south than
during more normal years. Instead of a general pattern of increasing
precipitation with latitude, the southern part of the coast might
receive greater amounts than the northern coast. Furthermore, because
the Pineapple Express passes over warmer waters than do storms from the
Gulf of Alaska, the air tends to be warmer and more humid, and the
height of the snow line increases considerably. As a result, even though
this type of storm track can lead to heavy precipitation in the
mountains, a smaller percentage of it accumulates as snow—much to the
chagrin of local residents who depend on the snow for skiing and other
recreational activities.A significant Pineapple Express pattern had
established itself during the latter half of December 2010 (Figure
9-2-1). This resulted in unusually heavy precipitation over southern
California.For example, Pasadena, which averages 7.95 cm (3.13 in.) of
rain for the entire month of December, received 31.2 cm (12.28 in) over a
five-day period Thus, there are both immediate and longterm effects of a
Pineapple Express: the potential for heavy rains and a seemingly
paradoxical potential decrease in water supply.FIGURE 9-2-1 Pineapple
Express, December 21, 2010. This satellite image shows how plumes of
warm moist air and associated storms follow a path generally from the
Hawaiian Islands toward the west coast of North America....Compare a
Pineapple Express storm with the typical Pacific winter storms that
strike California. How are they similar? How are they different? Get solution
2fs. The Pineapple ExpressMost precipitation along the west coast of North America results from storms that cross the Pacific Ocean between November and April, and most of these storms pass through the Gulf of Alaska. Unlike the winter storms that affect the central part of Canada and the United States, the Pacific storms are dominated by maritime polar air, which seldom brings extremely low temperatures to the region, Thus, the precipitation associated with them almost always occurs as rain along the immediate coastal region and as rain or snow at inland (especially high-elevation) locations.Importance to California of Winter PrecipitationMountain snowpack is critical to every economic aspect of California. The snow line (the elevation marking the change from rain to snow) for winter storms depends on the temperature. It usually varies between several hundred and a few thousand meters above sea level. The colder the storm, the lower the snow line. Water is stored in the watersheds as snow melts in the springtime and flows into the large reservoir system that provides drinking water and the irrigation supply. Precipitation that falls as rain evaporates more quickly than snow and is more likely to be lost before it can replenish the reservoirs.Effects of the Pineapple ExpressIn some years, the majority of Pacific storms do not approach the West Coast from the northwest but instead travel eastward from the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands along a plume of moist, humid air. This storm track is referred to locally as the Pineapple Express. When storms take this path repeatedly, as they did during the El Niño winters of 1982-1983 and 1992-1993, the greatest amounts of precipitation are concentrated farther to the south than during more normal years. Instead of a general pattern of increasing precipitation with latitude, the southern part of the coast might receive greater amounts than the northern coast. Furthermore, because the Pineapple Express passes over warmer waters than do storms from the Gulf of Alaska, the air tends to be warmer and more humid, and the height of the snow line increases considerably. As a result, even though this type of storm track can lead to heavy precipitation in the mountains, a smaller percentage of it accumulates as snow—much to the chagrin of local residents who depend on the snow for skiing and other recreational activities.A significant Pineapple Express pattern had established itself during the latter half of December 2010 (Figure 9-2-1). This resulted in unusually heavy precipitation over southern California.For example, Pasadena, which averages 7.95 cm (3.13 in.) of rain for the entire month of December, received 31.2 cm (12.28 in) over a five-day period Thus, there are both immediate and longterm effects of a Pineapple Express: the potential for heavy rains and a seemingly paradoxical potential decrease in water supply.FIGURE 9-2-1 Pineapple Express, December 21, 2010. This satellite image shows how plumes of warm moist air and associated storms follow a path generally from the Hawaiian Islands toward the west coast of North America....Describe how a Pineapple Express affects the snowpack in the Sierra Nevadas. Why is this a matter of tremendous importance to the residents of California? Get solution
2fs. The Pineapple ExpressMost precipitation along the west coast of North America results from storms that cross the Pacific Ocean between November and April, and most of these storms pass through the Gulf of Alaska. Unlike the winter storms that affect the central part of Canada and the United States, the Pacific storms are dominated by maritime polar air, which seldom brings extremely low temperatures to the region, Thus, the precipitation associated with them almost always occurs as rain along the immediate coastal region and as rain or snow at inland (especially high-elevation) locations.Importance to California of Winter PrecipitationMountain snowpack is critical to every economic aspect of California. The snow line (the elevation marking the change from rain to snow) for winter storms depends on the temperature. It usually varies between several hundred and a few thousand meters above sea level. The colder the storm, the lower the snow line. Water is stored in the watersheds as snow melts in the springtime and flows into the large reservoir system that provides drinking water and the irrigation supply. Precipitation that falls as rain evaporates more quickly than snow and is more likely to be lost before it can replenish the reservoirs.Effects of the Pineapple ExpressIn some years, the majority of Pacific storms do not approach the West Coast from the northwest but instead travel eastward from the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands along a plume of moist, humid air. This storm track is referred to locally as the Pineapple Express. When storms take this path repeatedly, as they did during the El Niño winters of 1982-1983 and 1992-1993, the greatest amounts of precipitation are concentrated farther to the south than during more normal years. Instead of a general pattern of increasing precipitation with latitude, the southern part of the coast might receive greater amounts than the northern coast. Furthermore, because the Pineapple Express passes over warmer waters than do storms from the Gulf of Alaska, the air tends to be warmer and more humid, and the height of the snow line increases considerably. As a result, even though this type of storm track can lead to heavy precipitation in the mountains, a smaller percentage of it accumulates as snow—much to the chagrin of local residents who depend on the snow for skiing and other recreational activities.A significant Pineapple Express pattern had established itself during the latter half of December 2010 (Figure 9-2-1). This resulted in unusually heavy precipitation over southern California.For example, Pasadena, which averages 7.95 cm (3.13 in.) of rain for the entire month of December, received 31.2 cm (12.28 in) over a five-day period Thus, there are both immediate and longterm effects of a Pineapple Express: the potential for heavy rains and a seemingly paradoxical potential decrease in water supply.FIGURE 9-2-1 Pineapple Express, December 21, 2010. This satellite image shows how plumes of warm moist air and associated storms follow a path generally from the Hawaiian Islands toward the west coast of North America....Describe how a Pineapple Express affects the snowpack in the Sierra Nevadas. Why is this a matter of tremendous importance to the residents of California? Get solution
