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Old September 22nd 12, 05:19 PM posted to uk.sci.weather
Len Wood Len Wood is offline
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First recorded activity by Weather-Banter: Oct 2009
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Default equinoctial gales

On Sep 22, 4:15*pm, Kate Brown wrote:
It looks as if we're in for gales at the equinox this year. But is there
any truth in the notion of an 'equinoctial gale'? *If so, is it the
equinox that makes a difference or is it just the general change of
season?

--
Kate B

PS nospam means nospam. But umra at cockaigne dot org dot uk will get through!


Climatologically, the winter months show a peak in gale frequency.
As far as I know the autumn equinox does not show any peak, but I saw
some study (can't remember where now) which showed an increase in
gales near the spring equinox.
This figures as north-south temperature gradient is at a max then due
to Arctic ice.
Warming mid lats in spring enable any instabilty in the westerly flow
to concentrate the temp. gradient and so amplify the disturbance.

Len
Wembury, SW Devon