Midlatitude Surface systems

Midlatitude surface systems consist of continental-scale high and low pressure systems.

1. Can you summarize the three most important aspects of the wind circulation around high and low pressure systems?

2. What are the results of these wind circulations for cloud and precipitation formation of these characteristics associated with high and low pressure systems?

3. What are some the consequences of temperature advection associated with each of these systems?

Solution:

	High (anticyclone)	Low (cyclone)
1.	a) clockwise b) outward c) downward	a) counterclockwise b) inward c) upward
2.	downward circulation associated with clear conditions	upward circulation associated with cloud/precipitation
3.	warm advection to west (left in picture) cold advection to east (right in picture)	warm advection to east (right in picture) cold advection to west (left in picture)

Monitoring weather and forecasts

The following forecast for 12Z tomorrow morning map shows the evolution of the surface systems at this time.

You can monitor surface conditions for today by looking outside the window or using meteograms and observations at these two links:

• Meteogram for Littleton, NH weather station
  
• Meteogram for Lyndon State College weather station