A case study of a midtropospheric subsynoptic-scale cyclone that developed over the Ross Sea and Ross Ice Shelf of Antarctica
Abstract: Satellite imagery, synoptic-scale analyses and automatic weather station data were used to study a subsynoptic-scale cyclone that developed over the Ross Sea and Ross Ice Shelf areas of Antarctica. A pre-existing subsynoptic-scale midtropospheric cyclone descended from southern Victoria La...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1994
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.669.5375 http://polarmet.osu.edu/PMG_publications/carrasco_bromwich_as_1995.pdf |
| Summary: | Abstract: Satellite imagery, synoptic-scale analyses and automatic weather station data were used to study a subsynoptic-scale cyclone that developed over the Ross Sea and Ross Ice Shelf areas of Antarctica. A pre-existing subsynoptic-scale midtropospheric cyclone descended from southern Victoria Land into the semi-permanent baroclinic environment over the south-western corner of the Ross Sea. The subsynoptic-scale cyclone then developed into a frontal system travelling south-eastward over the Ross Ice Shelf and decayed five days later over Marie Byrd Land. It is concluded that stretching of the subsynoptic-scale low, while descending over 2000 m from the highplateaudownto sealeve1,increasedits cyclonicvorticityviaconservationofpotentialvorticity. This, along with a cold katabatic outbreak into the northern part of the circulation, provided the mechanisms for its initial development. Subsequently, cold boundary-layer air over the Ross Ice Shelf spiralled into the subsynoptic-scale cyclone supporting its further development. An upper-level synoptic-scale cyclone that approached the area provided the upper-level support for its ESE displacement and development. |
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