EESA09H3 Lecture 6: Lecture 6 Notes.docx
24 Oct 2012
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Document Summary
Cyclones forming over the open sea in polar regions. Sometimes called arctic hurricanes due to well defined eye . Winds must be gale force ( > 50 kph) Continental cold arctic air (cp or ca) moves over open sea water (relatively warm) Heat source (sensible and latent) of the open sea fuels the storm. In many ways similar to hurricanes: sea surface temperatures as energy source, eye formation, warm core, dissipate over land, open sea arctic air mass cloud formation (due to latent heat) Polar lows form quickly reaching maximum intensity within 12 to 24 hours. Most last less than 12 hours: only a few last more than 24 hours in ec study. Polar regions over open sea relative warmth is energy source. Northern hemisphere: atlantic ocean, pacific ocean, canadian seas. Limited by sea ice conditions open water a necessary condition. Most polar lows occur in the labrador sea.
