To get maps of atmospheric properties over Canada, go to the analysis chart sect

Question

To get maps of atmospheric properties over Canada, go to the analysis chart section of the Environment Canada website: http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/analysis/index e.html. Consider the voracity equation we derived in class and which is given on slide 4 in section 16 of the notes. Choose 1 location over Canada and compute the absolute voracity at the point. Then determine the change in absolute voracity for that point over the next 12 hours: representing the time derivative as a simple forward difference. Finally determine the absolute voracity at that same location from the weather chart 12 hours after the chart you initially used. How do the 2 answers compare? Explain any differences. You may ignore the friction term. You may also assume that the atmosphere is vagotropic for simplicity. As a hint remember that if you are solving the equation for a given location, that means you are examining the equation in an Eulerian viewpoint. Use geostrophic velocities for any velocities you need to compute. Assume the surface chart is at 1000 HPa: if necessary. You can also assume that the vertical velocity at the surface is 0 (but you cannot assume that there is no vertical velocity in the lower layer of the atmosphere).

Explanation / Answer

Vorticity is the rotation of air parcels about a central point. The counterclockwise rotations of the air are known as positive/ cyclonic vorticity whereas clockwise rotation is the negative/anticyclonic rotation.Vorticity is produced by wind shear, coriolis force and curvature of the earth. Vorticity are mainly of two types absolute and relative vorticity. Relative vorticity is due to flow of air around troughs and ridges and horizontal difference in wind speeds. Absolute vorticity is the sum of relative vorticity and the vorticity due to rotation of the earth. The absolute vorticity is plotted in isobaric charts. The value of absolute vorticity is highest near the troughs and lowest near the ridges.

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