GEOG 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Vorticity

• School: University of Georgia
• Department: Geography
• Course: GEOG 1101
• Professor: Scott Connelly

Document Summary

If the flows are both in the same direction (counterclockwise in nh) then they complement each other increasing absolute vorticity. In relation to rossby waves the vorticity changes as you move along a wave through troughs and ridges. This is caused by convergence of air in one portion of a trough and divergence in another portion of a trough. On the down slope of a trough there is more convergence and thus increased vorticity or spin, while on the upslope there is divergence and decreased vorticity. Another factor in cyclone development is speed divergence, and speed convergence. These events also occur along the rossby wave with speed divergence occurring basically on the downslope of a trough and speed convergence on the upslope of a trough. Another type of divergence and convergence is diffluence and confluence. This is change in the horizontal component of moving air.