|
of August 13-15, 2005 Answer to Question 3 |
|
3. Still 8:30 pm. Examine the following surface map from the Oklahoma Mesonet.
- Where would you place the surface front, based on Mesonet winds?
- Where would you place the surface front, based on Mesonet temperatures?
- Where would you place the surface front, based on Mesonet dew points?
- In what direction is it oriented (north-south, etc)?
- Are dewpoints high enough to support convection, provided other ingredients are in place?
Answer.
- Mesonet winds indicate two wind shift regions: one that from about Duncan to Seminole to Jay; the second runs from about Cheyenne to Fairview to Medford
- The strongest Mesonet temperature gradient generally lies about 40 miles to east of the wind shift line.
- The Mesonet dewpoint field is fairly non-descript. There are no major gradients that indicate a front.
- Based on evidence in the temperature and wind fields the front is oriented southwest-northeast across the state.
- Dewpoint temperatures in the 60s and 70s are more than sufficient to sustain convection.
The Bottom Line:
-
Sometimes a front isn't remarkably distinct, and is more of a frontal "zone" than a line on a map.
