Meridional circulation An atmospheric circulation in a vertical plane oriented along a meridian. It consists, therefore, of the vertical and the meridional (North or South) components of motion only.
meridional"In meteorology, a flow, average, or functional variation taken in a direction that is parallel to a line of longitude; along a meridian; northerly or southerly; as opposed to zonal.
meridional flow - A type of atmospheric circulation pattern in which the meridional (north and south) component of motion is unusually pronounced. The accompanying zonal component is usually weaker than normal.
Meridional Flow - Large-scale atmospheric flow in which the north-south component (i.e., longitudinal, or along a meridian) is pronounced. The accompanying zonal (east-west) component often is weaker than normal. Compare with zonal flow.
MERIDIONAL FLOW
Atmospheric circulation in which the north and south, or meridional, component of motion is unusually pronounced. This weakens the zonal flow.
Meridional - In the north-south direction; along a meridian.
Macroscale - A large scale event usually measured in 10,000's of kilometers and weeks of time; a planetary scale event; e.g. long waves in the jet stream.
Meridional Flow - zonal flow.
Mesoscale - Size scale referring to weather systems smaller than synoptic-scale systems but larger than single storm clouds. Horizontal dimensions generally range from around 50 miles to several hundred miles.
Meridional flow pattern Flow of westerlies in a series of deep troughs and sharp ridges; westerlies exhibit considerable amplitude.
Meridional Flow - It's when the winds in the upper levels of the atmosphere blow from a North to South component which usually creates a buckling effect in the jet stream.
v
is the meridional velocity (velocity in the north/south direction tangent to the sphere).
ω
is the vertical velocity ...
Zonal and Meridional Meteorologists will often use the terms "zonal" and "meridonial" to describe the upper level wind patterns which indicate the trajectory of air masses and weather systems.
A blocking situation is attended by pronounced meridional flow in the upper levels, often comprising one or more closed anticyclonic circulations at high latitudes and cyclonic circulations at low latitudes (cut-off highs and cut-off lows).
The accompanying meridional (north-south) component often is weaker than normal. Compare with meridional flow.Zone of AerationIn hydrologic terms, the locus of points just above the water table where soil pores may either contain air or water.
Meridional: N-S, S-N. More violent Weather. 32 Wind: Microbursts. A downburst the affects a path on the ground shorter that 2.5 miles. 33 Wind: Monsoon. Change in wind direction. 34 Wind: Mountain Breeze. Nighttime. Cold. 35 Wind: Mountain Waves.
Large-scale atmospheric flow in which the east-west component (i.e., latitudinal) is dominant. The accompanying meridional (north-south) component often is weaker than normal. Compare with meridional flow.
BLOCKING PATTERN- A situation in which the upper tropospheric flow becomes highly meridional and stagnant. Two common blocking patterns are the omega block and the rex block. Click here for more information on atmospheric blocking.
the airflow meanders a long way north and south around the loops of the pattern, crossing many parallels of latitude in a relatively limited longitudinal range: a 'meridional' type; Usually, ...
Zonal Flow: Large-scale atmospheric flow in which the east-west component, i.e., flow parallel to the latitude lines, is much greater than the meridional (north-south) component. Compare with meridional flow.
East
NOAA National Weather Service - Cite This Source - This Definition
Browse Related Terms: Azimuth, DMNT, ELY, Meridional Flow, Set, W/, West African Disturbance Line, Zonal Flow
Also listed in ...
ZONAL FLOW The flow of air along a latitudinal component of existing flow, normally from west to east. Related term: meridional flow ...
models Computer programs that calculate simplified climate models based on versions of the conservation equations that have been averaged over longitude, with the effects of the synoptic eddies parameterized statistically in the meridional plane.
horizontal windThe horizontal wind in terms of either speed and direction, or the zonal (u) and meridional (v) components.hurricaneA severe tropical cyclone having winds in excess of 64 knots (74 miles per hour).
 See also: Air, Surface, Water, Weather, Meteor
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