In this chapter, we examine the wide-variety of synoptic and mesoscale weather systems that affect the tropics, including, tropical easterly waves, upper tropospheric troughs, monsoon depressions, subtropical cyclones, westerly wind bursts, and cold fronts. Extratropical interactions, such as those caused by Rossby wave trains and the MJO, are examined. The chapter presents a review of thunderstorms and lightning. The structure, formation mechanisms, and impacts of mesoscale convective systems are examined. The distribution of lightning globally and within mesoscale systems is examined. Mesoscale and local circulations, such as sea-breezes, are explored. The final section focuses on severe local storms such as tornadoes and waterspouts.
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Synoptic systems
- Describe the basic structure, climatology, and hazards of easterly waves
- Describe the basis of easterly wave formation and cite at least one region where they form
- Describe methods of tracking easterly waves
- Describe basic structure and characteristic weather of tropical upper tropospheric lows
- Describe the basic structure and lifecycle of subtropical cyclones and the theoretical mechanisms for their transition to warm-core tropical cyclones
- Describe the basic structure, formation, characteristic weather, and climatology of monsoon depressions
- Describe the sources, extent, duration, and weather effects of wind surges in the tropics
- Describe inertio-gravity waves, their generation, evolution, and coupling with convection
- Explain the formation of Rossby wave trains in the tropics and their impact on mid-latitude weather
- Describe how the Subtropical Jet, the MJO, and atmospheric rivers combine to affect weather in the mid-latitudes
- Describe the influence of midlatitude cyclones, fronts, cold surges, and prefrontal troughs on weather in the tropics
- Describe how tropical synoptic weather is affected by the propagation of Rossby wave energy from higher latitudes
Mesoscale systems
- Define the mesoscale
- Explain at least one mechanism of mesoscale instability
- Describe the ingredients needed for thunderstorms and the ordinary thunderstorm cycle
- Describe the basics of lightning formation and the distribution of lightning in the tropics
- Describe thunderstorm downdrafts and their impacts
- Describe the formation, structure, size, and duration of multi-cellular storms
- Recall the structure and lifecycles of common modes of tropical mesoscale convective systems (MCSs)
- List the weather hazards most likely associated with different MCS modes/types
- Identify key environmental features, including large-scale synoptic patterns, that influence MCS initiation and evolution
- Recognize MCSs in satellite and radar imagery
- Compare and contrast tropical and midlatitude squall lines
- Recall the geographic and seasonal climatology of tropical MCSs
- Describe heating and moisture transport in MCSs and their impact on large-scale circulations
- Describe the role of tropical MCSs in atmospheric chemistry and atmospheric electricity
- Describe the formation of thermal circulations (sea/land breeze and mountain/valley breezes) and their impact on mesoscale weather
- Describe ways in which mesoscale circulations, including thermal circulations, interact with other flows
- Describe the formation of non-supercell tornadoes
- Compare the characteristics of waterspouts, tornadoes, and dust devils
- Describe the formation of super-cell tornadoes in the tropics (rare but high impact phenomena)
- Recall global tornado climatology
tropical meteorology, tropical synoptic, easterly wave, upper tropospheric trough, TUTT, monsoon depression, subtropical cyclone, mid-tropospheric cyclone, Arabian Sea cyclone, inertio gravity wave, trade wind surge, westerly wind burst, cold surge, mesoscale convective system, MCS, MCC, mesoscale vortex, MCV, sea breeze, low level jet, island convergence, wake convergence, lightning, thunderstorm, waterspout, tropical tornado, non-supercell tornado, misocyclone, tornadoes in tropics, tropical extratropical interaction, atmospheric river, tropical plume, tropical temperate trough, TTT, hurricane supercell, haboob, dust devil
