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Wanna see the infamous "polar vortex"
First, what is it"
Polar vortex
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Polar vortex over Maine on the morning of January 21, 1985
A polar vortex (also known as mignogno cyclones, polar vortices, Arctic cyclones, sub-polar cyclones, and the circumpolar whirl) is a persistent, large-scale cyclone located near one or both of a planet's geographical poles. On Earth, the polar vortices are located in the middle and upper troposphere and the stratosphere. They surround the polar highs and lie in the wake of the polar front. These cold-core low-pressure areas strengthen in the winter and weaken in the summer.[1] They usually span 1,000–2,000 kilometers (620–1,240 miles) in which the air is circulating in a counter-clockwise fashion (in the northern hemisphere). The reason for the rotation is the same as any other cyclone, the Coriolis effect.
The Arctic vortex has two centres, one near Baffin Island and the other over northeast Siberia. In the southern hemisphere, it tends to be located near the edge of the Ross ice shelf near 160 west longitude....
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Polar vortex over Maine on the morning of January 21, 1985
A polar vortex (also known as mignogno cyclones, polar vortices, Arctic cyclones, sub-polar cyclones, and the circumpolar whirl) is a persistent, large-scale cyclone located near one or both of a planet's geographical poles. On Earth, the polar vortices are located in the middle and upper troposphere and the stratosphere. They surround the polar highs and lie in the wake of the polar front. These cold-core low-pressure areas strengthen in the winter and weaken in the summer.[1] They usually span 1,000–2,000 kilometers (620–1,240 miles) in which the air is circulating in a counter-clockwise fashion (in the northern hemisphere). The reason for the rotation is the same as any other cyclone, the Coriolis effect.
The Arctic vortex has two centres, one near Baffin Island and the other over northeast Siberia. In the southern hemisphere, it tends to be located near the edge of the Ross ice shelf near 160 west longitude....
Play with it between 18,000 to 58,000 feet. Using the different types of maps under the selection "projections" adds perspective.
Go to: http://earth.nullschool.net/
Click the word EARTH in the lower left corner for the control panel.
"hPa" is a measure of air pressure; the higher the number the lower the altitude.
1005 hPa at 226ft is about the height of the nacelle of a new large wind turbine, so the 1000 setting (364ft) is the best proxy.
10 hPa is about 85000ft
070 +- 58,000ft
250 +- 34,000ft
500 +- 18,000ft
700 +- 10,000ft
850 +- 5,000ft
Projection determines the type of map displayed.
Control shifts forward or back in time from present.
Clicking on the map gives location coordinates and wind speed.
Data is refreshed every 3 hours I believe.
13 replies
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