GEO 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Jet Stream, Lapse Rate, Stratus Cloud
12 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
A large portion of the atmosphere, sometimes continental in size, that may move over the earth s surface as a disti(cid:374)ct, relatively ho(cid:373)oge(cid:374)ous e(cid:374)tity. They are the single most important element in determining the weather. The environment of their source area generally determines their characteristics. The polar regions: cool to very hot. In the us, most of our winter precipitation is associated with these systems. Heavy rain can occur for a short period of time. Tornados are associated with the passage of cold fronts. More tornados occur in our mid west than the rest of the world combined. Warm air rides up a wedge of cold air. Rainfall may be moderate but can last for an extended period. Storm track is determined by the position of the jet stream. The key factor is the hawaiian high (the pacific subtropical high) From june to early sept, it is over us and no frontal rain can occur.
