Mid-latitude synoptic and mesoscale systems - Atmosphere, Weather and Climate - page 234

DISCUSSION TOPICS

Extratropical Cyclones: Palmén Memorial Symposium ,
American Meteorological Society, Boston, 262pp.
[Invited and contributed conference papers and review
articles by leading specialists.]
NOAA (1982) Tornado Safety: Surviving Nature's Most
Violent Storms (with Tornado Statistics for 1953-1980) ,
Washington, DC.
Pedgley, D. E. (1962) A Course of Elementary
Meteorology , HMSO, London, 189pp.
Preston-Whyte, R. A. and Tyson, P. D. (1988) The
Atmosphere and Weather of Southern Africa , Oxford
University Press, Capetown, 375pp. [An introductory
meteorology text from a southern hemisphere view-
point, with chapters on circulation and weather in
Southern Africa as well as climate variability.]
Riley, D. and Spolton, L. (1974) World Weather and
Climate , Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
120pp. [Introductory overview.]
Strahler, A. N. (1965) Introduction to Physical Geography ,
Wiley, New York, 455pp.
Taljaard, J. J., van Loon, H., Crutcher, H. L. and Jenne,
R. L. (1969) Climate of the Upper Air, Part 1. Southern
Hemisphere 1 , Naval Weather Service Command,
Washington, DC, NAVAIR 50-1C-55.
Taylor, J. A. and Yates, R. A. (1967) British Weather
in Maps (2nd edn), Macmillan, London, 315pp.
[Illustrates how to interpret synoptic maps and weather
reports, including the lapse rate structure.]

What are the essential differences between mesoscale
and synoptic scale systems?

Using an appropriate website with synoptic weather
maps (see Appendix 4D), trace the movement of
frontal and non-frontal lows/troughs and high-
pressure cells over a five-day period, determining
rates of displacement and changes of intensity of the
systems.

In the same manner, examine the relationship of sur-
face lows and highs to features at the 500-mb level.

Consider the geographical distribution and seasonal
occurrence of different types of non-frontal low-
pressure systems.

FURTHER READING

Books

Church, C. R. Burgess, D., Doswell, C. and Davies-Jones,
R.P. (eds) (1993) The Tornado: Its Structure,
Dynamics, Prediction, and Hazards. Geophys. Monogr .
79, Amer, Geophys. Union, Washington, DC, 637pp.
[Comprehensive accounts of vortex theory and
modelling, observations of tornadic thunderstorms and
tornadoes, tornado climatology, forecasting, hazards
and damage surveys.]
Karoly, D. I. and Vincent, D. G. (1998) Meteorology of the
Southern Hemisphere. Met. Monogr . 27(49), American
Meteorological Society, Boston, MA, 410pp.
[Comprehensive modern account of the circulation,
meteorology of the landmasses and Pacific Ocean,
mesoscale processes, climate variability and change and
modelling.]
Kessler, E. (ed.) (1986) Thunderstorm Morphology and
Dynamics , University of Oklahoma Press, Norman,
OK, 411pp. [Comprehensive accounts by leading
experts on convection and its modelling, all aspects of
thunderstorm processes and occurrence in different
environments, hail, lightning and tornadoes.]
Musk, L. F. (1988) Weather Systems , Cambridge University
Press, Cambridge, 160pp. [Introductory account.]
Newton, C. W. (ed.) (1972) Meteorology of the Southern
Hemisphere, Met. Monogr . No. 13 (35), American
Meteorological Society, Boston, MA, 263pp. [Original
comprehensive account now largely replaced by Karoly
and Vincent (2000).]
Newton, C. W. and Holopainen, E. D. (eds) (1990)

Articles

Belasco, J. E. (1952) Characteristics of air masses over
the British Isles. Meteorological Office, Geophysical
Memoirs 11(87), 34pp.
Bennetts, D. A., Grant, J. R. and McCallum, E. (1988)
An introductory review of fronts: Part I Theory and
observations. Met. Mag . 117, 357-70.
Blanchard, D. O. (1990) Mesoscale convective patterns of
the southern High Plains. Bull. Amer. Met. Soc ., 71(7),
994-1005.
Boucher, R. J. and Newcomb, R. J. (1962) Synoptic inter-
pretation of some TIROS vortex patterns: a preliminary
cyclone model. J. Appl. Met . 1, 122-36.
Boyden, C. J. (1963) Development of the jet stream and
cut-off circulations. Met. Mag . 92, 287-99.
Browning, K. A. (1968) The organization of severe local
storms. Weather 23, 429-34.
Browning, K. A. (1985) Conceptual models of precip-
itation systems. Met. Mag . 114, 293-319.
Browning, K. A. (1986) Weather radar and FRONTIERS.
Weather 41, 9-16.
Browning, K. A. (1990) Organization of clouds and
precipitation in extratropical cyclones. In Newton, C.