OT weather

[David A. Bandel]

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On Sun, 01 Feb 2004 12:01:10 -0500
Leon Goldstein <metapsych at earthlink.net> wrote:

> Joel Hammer wrote:
> 
> >Speaking of bad weather, does anyone know why these
> >artic air masses move South sometimes but not at other
> >times? Seems to me if you want to understand the weather,
> >if have to figure out why the wind blows in one direction
> >today, and in another direction tomorrow.
> >
> 
> High pressure, resulting from higher density of cold air, seeks
> equilibrium. Wind direction appears to change because winds blow in a
> circular motion, thanks to coriolis effect.  High pressure systems
> rotate clockwise, low pressure systems counter clockwise(in the N.
> hemisphere.) As the mass of rotating air moves, (from high pressure to
> low) the perceived wind direction changes, i.e. frontal passage.
> 
> Now add a bit of convective air flow and uneven radiant heating over
> the terrain or water the air is moving, and the neat physics get
> sloppy.

And you haven't even taken into account moisture, particulate,
condensation, uplift caused by rising terrain (mountains), and a myriad
other factors (forest fires with their own micro-climate).  If you could
even quantify all the factors at one point in time, something, even
something in the equation (the proverbial butterfly in China) could
affect an unstable system such that what was converging a minute ago is
now diverging.  You can get a headache just thinking about it all.

Ciao,

David A. Bandel
- -- 
Focus on the dream, not the competition.
		Nemesis Racing Team motto
GPG key autoresponder:  mailto:david_key at pananix.com
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