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Meridional Flow

Meteorology Meridional circulationMesocyclone

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 - 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
Atmospheric circulation in which the north and south, or meridional, component of motion is unusually pronounced. This weakens the zonal flow.

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.

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).

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.

The accompanying meridional (north-south) component often is weaker than normal. Compare with meridional flow.
NOAA National Weather Service - Cite This Source - This Definition ...

Meridional Flow: North to south or south to north movement of air masses producing more active weather.
METAR: The international code for avaition weather observations.
Meteorologist: One who studies meteorology.

ZONAL FLOW The flow of air along a latitudinal component of existing flow, normally from west to east. Related term: meridional flow ...

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.

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.

See also: Meridional, Air, Zonal, Water, Weather