Mesoscale meteorology
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The term mesoscale is a size scale referring to weather systems smaller than synoptic scale systems but larger than storm-scale cumulus systems. Horizontal dimensions generally range from around 50 miles to several hundred miles. Squall lines, Mesoscale Convective Complexes, and Mesoscale Convective Systems are examples of mesoscale weather systems.
Mesoscale, is sub-Synoptic scale (that is larger than the Microscale).
Mesoscale is divided into these subclasses (Orlanski, 1975):
- Meso-gamma 2-20 km, deals with phenomena like thunderstorm convection, complex terrain flows (at the edge to micro-scale, also known as storm-scale)
- Meso-beta 20-200 km deals with phenomena like sea breezes, lake effect snow storms
- Meso-alpha 200-2000 km fronts, deals with phenomena like squall lines, mesoscale convective systems (MCS), tropical cyclones at the edge of synoptic scale
See also
Orlanski, I., 1975: A rational subdivision of scales for atmospheric processes. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 56(5), 527-530.Fujita, T. T., 1986. Mesoscale classifications: their history and their application to forecasting, in Ray, P. S., ed., Mesoscale Meteorology and Forecasting: American Meteorological Society, Boston, p. 18-35. [presented 1984; published 1986]
External links
- http://meted.ucar.edu/mesoprim/mesodefn/print.htm
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