GEMPAK Assignment 2
Brett Roberts
December 5, 2006
Plots
850 mb
500 mb
250 mb
Questions
1. The windiest conditions, based on the 850 mb plot, would likely be
found over the Southern and Central Plains, as well as the Pacific
Northwest. These are the areas experiencing the tightest gradient in
850 mb heights, which is a fairly good proxy for surface pressure.
2. Dry air advection is occuring over Oklahoma at 850 mb. The maximum relative humidity
associated with the storm system over the Mid South is already centered over southern
Oklahoma and the 850 mb winds are from the north, so drier air is being advected in from
the Central Plains.
3. The 500 mb trough axis runs north-south (neutral-tilt) through the Plains states. The
upper-level low is located between Joplin and Kansas City, as evidenced by the wind field
in that region.
4. The 250 mb map trough axis is over the Plains, displaced slightly to the west of the axis on
the 500 mb map. The 250 mb trough is likely to continue digging because the strongest winds are still
upstream of the trough axis and have yet to round the base.
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