Vorticity in the Jetstream and Surface Weather: The Chicken and the Egg
 

So which one is it? I understand that there is an interplay between
ridges and troughs in the jetstream and cyclonic or anticylonic
behavior on the surface... highs and lows are either cut off or fed
by corresponding lows and highs in the jetsream. But are the surface
and high altitude really in perfect balance? Or does one really
determine the other all the time? Maybe just a little bit? Maybe
under certain conditions one has more influence than the other?

Enlighten me, sage seers of the newsgroups...

Vorticity in the Jetstream and Surface Weather: The Chicken and the Egg
 

Hi Dubspam,

Good question. I have seen approaching upper troughs develop or
intensify downstream surface low pressure centers and I have also seen
approaching upper ridges increase downstream high pressure at the
surface. In these cases the upper air pattern directly affects the
surface pattern. Jet stream impulses have definite effects on surface
patterns.

On the other hand I have seen a well developed upper trough dampen or
weaken as it approached or moved overtop of a strong ridge of high
pressure at the surface; so in this case the surface pattern affected
the upper air pattern.

All in all I have noticed that upper air features determine the
surface pattern the most but I think that the reverse happens as well.


Smerby
www.accuweather.com




(Dubs) wrote in message . com...
So which one is it? I understand that there is an interplay between
ridges and troughs in the jetstream and cyclonic or anticylonic
behavior on the surface... highs and lows are either cut off or fed
by corresponding lows and highs in the jetsream. But are the surface
and high altitude really in perfect balance? Or does one really
determine the other all the time? Maybe just a little bit? Maybe
under certain conditions one has more influence than the other?

Enlighten me, sage seers of the newsgroups...