What is a mid-latitude cyclone?
– The mid-latitude cyclone is a synoptic scale low pressure system that has cyclonic (counter-clockwise in northern hemisphere) flow that is found in the middle latitudes (i.e., 30N-55N) – IT IS NOT A HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM o There is a location (tropics vs. mid-latitudes) and size difference between hurricane and mid-latitude cyclone Typical size of mid-latitude cyclone = 1500-5000km in diameter Typical size of a hurricane or tropical storm = 200-1000km in diameter Here is a picture of a typical mid-latitude cyclone and hurricane. Notice the size difference. How does the mid-latitude cyclone form (for a longer description read pages 219-228) 1. From polar front theory, we know that in the mid-latitudes there is a boundary between cold dry (cP) air to the north and warm moist (mT) air to the south 2. Along this boundary a counter-clockwise circulation can set up at the surface, which acts to take warm air up from the south and cold air down from the north. This is called cyclogene
– The mid-latitude cyclone is a synoptic scale low pressure system that has cyclonic (counter-clockwise in northern hemisphere) flow that is found in the middle latitudes (i.e., 30N-55N) – IT IS NOT A HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM o There is a location (tropics vs. mid-latitudes) and size difference between hurricane and mid-latitude cyclone Typical size of mid-latitude cyclone = 1500-5000km in diameter Typical size of a hurricane or tropical storm = 200-1000km in diameter Here is a picture of a typical mid-latitude cyclone and hurricane. Notice the size difference. How does the mid-latitude cyclone form (for a longer description read pages 219-228) 1. From polar front theory, we know that in the mid-latitudes there is a boundary between cold dry (cP) air to the north and warm moist (mT) air to the south 2. Along this boundary a counter-clockwise circulation can set up at the surface, which acts to take warm air up from the south and cold air down from the north. This is called cyclogene
