SynLab Course 12.804 Fronts

12.804: Fronts and thermal wind equation

In this project we investigate the structure of atmospheric fronts from analyzed fields. We will study the relationship between the large scale temperature and wind fields as described by the 'thermal wind relationship'.

You can use either climatological or instantaneous fields

Climatology - Polar front example:
http://paoc.mit.edu/labguide/fronts_polar.html

Instantaneous maps - Synoptic-scale fronts example: http://paoc.mit.edu/labguide/fronts_synoptic.html

To plot instantaneous fields we use the 'Custom Plots' from the Synoptic Laboratory web:

Temperature maps at different pressure levels

and

Cross sections of temperature and winds through fronts.

You can download a pdf file of the assignment here.

Back to 12.804: Atmosphere