This module describes characteristics of African easterly waves including horizontal and vertical structure, evolution, speed, frequency, methods of tracking, and their downstream transformation over the Atlantic, Caribbean, and East Pacific. Mechanisms for wave formation are presented. Also explored are differences between waves that develop into tropical cyclones and those that do not. The final sections focus on extratropical interactions and variability of easterly waves.
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At the end of this module, learners should be able to:
- Describe the horizontal and vertical structure, speed, and frequency of African easterly waves
- Describe their geographic location and seasonal cycle
- Describe their typical lifecycle over Africa
- Explain the theories for their formation
- Describe the relationship between easterly waves and deep convection
- Describe the hazards associated with easterly waves
- Describe at least three methods of identifying and tracking easterly waves
- Describe their transformation and impacts as they move downstream to the Atlantic, Caribbean, and East Pacific
African Easterly Wave, AEW, tropical wave, African Easterly Jet, AEJ, meridional PV gradient reversal, potential gradient reversal, easterly wave and convection, tropical cyclone genesis, tropical cyclone origin, tracking easterly wave, easterly wave formation, easterly wave structure, easterly wave period
2014-07-02: This module was updated for compatibility with non-Flash capable browsers.
