On which side of an easterly wave are thunderstorms most likely to develop?

Asked by: Pretty Lawson

Occasionally, a “kink” will develop in the jet and move from east to west, hence the name easterly wave. Converging winds on the east side of the easterly wave trigger the development of thunderstorms, and some of these large thunderstorm systems go on to become hurricanes.

Where do easterly waves form?

Easterly waves usually develop in the western parts of the large ocean basins, between about 5° and 20° N.

How are easterly waves associated with hurricanes?

Easterly Waves are not associated with particularly high dew points, but can be associated with enough water vapor so that clusters of thunderstorms can form in association with them. Also, Easterly Waves are associated with only weak to moderately intense surface lows.

Why does the easterly wave cause tropical disturbance?

Tropical cyclones often develop along easterly waves. These waves, or oscillations, in the trade winds move from east to west across the tropics. Satellite imagery provides the best view of an easterly wave. As low-level winds enter the trough of the wave, they converge, causing convection.

How are easterly waves created?

Also called an easterly wave, African easterly wave, invest, or tropical disturbance, a tropical wave is generally a slow-moving disturbance that’s embedded in the easterly trade winds. To put that more simply, it’s a weak trough of low pressure that develops from an unorganized cluster of thunderstorms.

What happens on the west side of easterly waves?

To the west of the trough line in an easterly wave over the ocean, there is generally found divergence, a shallow moist layer, and exceptionally fine weather. The moist layer rises rapidly near the trough line; in and to the east of the trough line intense convergence, much cloudiness, and heavy rain showers prevail.

What is easterly winds?

(especially of a wind) coming from the east: an easterly gale. adverb. toward the east. from the east. noun, plural east·er·lies.

How often do easterly waves occur?

Easterly waves last from a couple of days to several weeks and new waves are developing at intervals of 3 to 4 days. Generally more slowly than the current in which it is embedded a typical easterly wave travels at speeds between 10 to 15 knots resulting in a wavelength of about 2,000 to 2,500 km.

How does the formation of an easterly wave lead to the development of a Cape Verde type hurricane?

How does the formation of an easterly wave lead to the development of a Cape Verde-type hurricane? On the eastern side of the wave axis, low pressure can cause the formation of a tropical disturbance that grows as it moves west.

What kind of pressure systems travel in easterly waves?

low air pressure

A tropical wave (also called easterly wave, tropical easterly wave, and African easterly wave), in and around the Atlantic Ocean, is a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which moves from east to west across the tropics, causing areas of cloudiness and …

What is an easterly current?

C. Easterly Surface Currents: As western boundary currents reach latitudes of the prevailing westerly winds, they become easterly currents. The best known examples are the continuation of the Gulf Stream as it moves toward Europe and the North Pacific Current.

Where does low level convergence occur in an easterly wave?

The low-level convergence and associated convective weather occur on the eastern side of the wave axis. Normally, it moves slower than the atmospheric current in which it is embedded and is considered a weak trough of low pressure.

What causes African easterly waves?

A tropical easterly wave that is generated due to a combined baroclinic and barotropic instability of the African jet. African easterly waves have a period of three to four days, a horizontal wavelength of 2000-2500 km, and maximum amplitude in the lower troposphere.

What is easterly jet stream?

The Tropical Easterly Jet (jet stream) is the meteorological term referring to an upper level easterly wind that starts in late June and continues until early September.

Where is hurricane season in September?

The entire Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic U.S. coastlines are susceptible to tropical storms and hurricanes during the month of September.