Waves on the world map latitude longitude and weather

See this world map latitude longitude lines, oceans, continents and poles?  The horizontal lines at the top and bottom are half as long as the equator line in the Eckert IV projection.

Right click and then view image to see a bigger version.  In this example, the latitude lines are 15 degrees apart, and the longitude lines are 30 degrees apart.  Right and left edges of the map are the prime meridian.

What do we do with a map this big?  Waves on a meteorological map look a little chaotic.  How do these waves work?

Several books have been written about wave theory, both in meteorology and other branches of physics.  Wave patterns appear on upper-level atmospheric maps, and seeing the big picture improves clarity if they can be shown in a single image.

You can see a weather map with large waves above, then use your back button to come back here and continue reading.  First, we'll look at the broad waves - huge up and down patterns spanning half the globe and reaching 30 latitudes or more.  It's zero to 90 degrees north and south for latitudes, and zero to 180 degrees east and west for longitudes.

We're on the ground; why do we care about what's up there?

Upper air waves, also known as atmospheric waves, can have a big impact on weather patterns.  Temperature differences between air masses can cause these waves, which can create ridges and troughs in atmospheric pressure patterns.  

Meteorologists use weather balloons and satellites to track temperature, pressure, and wind patterns in the upper atmosphere to forecast the weather.  Using this data, a three-dimensional model of the atmosphere is created to identify any patterns or waves that might affect the weather.  

Also, forecasters use computer models to predict how waves will move over time and how the upper atmosphere will behave.  Weather models take temperature, humidity, wind speed, and direction into account, and can help forecasters predict the movement of weather systems.  

Meteorologists use upper air waves to forecast weather, but they also consider surface temperatures, moisture levels, and other weather systems, like fronts and low pressure systems.  We can provide better weather forecasts when they take all these factors into account.

World Map Latitude Longitude and Rossby Waves

There's a variable called Wave number that tells you how many huge main waves there are on each hemisphere.  Usually three or four, but it can vary from two to five.

There are Rossby waves in the atmosphere that are caused by large features like oceans and mountains, which shield higher temperatures from colder air masses.  This is where we see our large-scale ridges and troughs, , called Rossby Air Waves...like the ones in this simplified jet-stream example on the right.

To get a better idea of where these waves are, you might need animated maps from several sequential time frames.  In their world map latitude longitude ranges, long waves don't move very fast, and they usually travel left to right.

What is a short wave?

No more than about half as long as a long wave.

Short waves move faster, though.  The bumps travel eastward up and down the long wave.  These waves correspond roughly with synoptic systems and are where meteorologists label most of our upper troughs and ridges.

These ones are also correlated with maximum and minimum vorticity values, with troughs associated with higher vorticity and ridges with lower vorticity.  An axis of maximum vorticity is indicated by a short-wave trough.

So what?  Weather is explained this way:  air rises and clouds form ahead of a trough, while air descends and clouds dissipate in front of a ridge.  Troughs and ridges play an important role in determining weather patterns and can have significant impacts on local and regional weather.  Here's how it works:

Weather is impacted by ridges and troughs in the atmospheric pressure pattern.  A trough has low atmospheric pressure, while a ridge has high atmospheric pressure.  The movement of air and the formation of weather systems can be affected by these pressure features.  

Cold fronts, low-pressure systems, and storms can be caused by troughs.  In a trough, air rises and cools, forming clouds and precipitation.  Rainy or stormy weather can result.  

Ridges, on the other hand, are associated with warm, dry weather.  When air flows into a ridge, it warms and suppresses cloud formation, so it's clear skies and warm.  

Weather systems can also move and intensify because of troughs and ridges.  A trough, for example, can make a weather system move more slowly or stall, while a ridge can speed it up.  

Vorticity and cloud generation are related to vertical motion.  When the air near the Earth's surface rises, clouds form.  This happens because rising air cools as it ascends, and the cooling causes the air to condense and form clouds.  It's the rotation in the atmosphere caused by vertical motion, because the vertical motions of the air can cause the air to rotate.

By comparing map imagery with satellite photos, analysts and forecasters can find world map latitude longitude - troughs and ridges.  Over the oceans, for example, there isn't a lot of surface-based data to use.

What does the World Map Latitude Longitude mean for YOUR climate?

There are certain limits on the latitude longitude and amplitude of waves in the upper atmosphere as depicted on the world map.

Do you have concerns about air pollution in your area??

Perhaps modelling air pollution will provide the answers to your question.

That is what I do on a full-time basis.  Find out if it is necessary for your project.

Have your Say...

on the StuffintheAir         facebook page

Other topics listed in these guides:

The Stuff in the Air Site Map

And, 

See the newsletter chronicle. 

Thank you to my research and writing assistants, ChatGPT and WordTune, as well as Wombo and others for the images.

GPT-4, OpenAI's large-scale language generation model, helped generate this text.  As soon as draft language is generated, the author reviews, edits, and revises it to their own liking and is responsible for the content.