| Stationary Planetary Waves |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| q | Stationary: These waves do not move |
|||||||||||||
| around much and are fixed in certain |
||||||||||||||
| geographic locations. |
||||||||||||||
| q | Planetary: These waves have large |
|||||||||||||
| wavelengths, one the order of several |
||||||||||||||
| thousands of kilometers. |
||||||||||||||
| q | Wave: Their structures vary in the zonal |
|||||||||||||
| direction. |
||||||||||||||
| q | Stationary planetary waves are forced by |
|||||||||||||
| large-scale mountains (such as Himalaya |
||||||||||||||
| and Rocky mountain ranges) and heat |
||||||||||||||
| contrasts between continents and oceans. |
||||||||||||||
| q | Stationary planetary waves are stronger |
|||||||||||||
| in winter than in summer. |
||||||||||||||
| January
Height of 500-mb Pressure Surface |
