Well, well, well. Seems like this daily blog thing isn't working out all that well. Guess I need a little more discipline applied to this effort. Anyway, I hate to just ramble so part of the challenge will be thinking of something remotely interesting on a daily basis. Today's topic is weather.
Weather is a bit of a hobby of mine, which is a handy hobby to have here in Kansas. It can actually add to your safety. Or not. But the weather here in the mid-west is unique. Yes, I know the definition of unique and I stand by it's use. With the Gulf of Mexico to our south and a prevailing wind out of the west the set up is perfect for severe weather. Nowhere on earth is there more severe weather than right here in the middle of our great country. As systems move west to east across the plains moist air is drawn up from the Gulf. This air, when met with the cooler, dryer air behind a front moving through, provides the energy for some tremendous storms. Not time to go into too much detail here, but I would like to share a couple of interesting weather items with you.
Firstly is something called a meso-scale convective complex. It's structure is similar to a hurricane. A hurricane has an endless supply of warm moist air provided by the ocean. With little surface resistance, once the hurricane begins forming there's little to impede it's continuing development. In the case of a meso-scale convective complex, it's source of energy, (warm, moist air), is a warm, low level jet that is diverted toward the surface. This supplies the system with a consistent input of energy. These systems often reach their peak severity in the early morning hours, unlike the more traditional storms whose peak will usually be in the evening. These systems tend to set up a pattern of cells that flow around a low pressure system and can cause the same area to receive storm after storm through the night. While they are often severe, they seldom spawn tornadoes.
Secondly is an event called a "heat event". I may have the name wrong. Anyway, as a thunderstorm falls apart there is a pool of cool air aloft. Cool air, being heavy, will eventually find it's way to the surface in the form of gusty winds. However, sometimes, this pool of air falls more or less straight down rather than "spilling" out of the sky. As the pool of air descends, very much intact, it begins compressing the air underneath it. This results in very high winds and very hot temperatures. The meso-net in Oklahoma, a system of meteorological reporting stations throughout the state has caught a few of these. If you check the site, you will find temperatures around 100 degrees, sometimes over and 80 mile an hour wind gusts, or more, like at midnight or after. If you have time to check it out it's pretty interesting stuff. Well, this has run long. The picture is of the only successful tornado chase I've been on. Hope you like it. Later, Bert
