Education examples:

See ncep atlas home page (the user should choose "Access to atlas"). There is a link directly to the output plot as well but by accessing the data through the atlas, the student can experiment with different options.

  • Indian monsoon
    The Indian monsoon is characterized by a reversal in the winds over the Indian subcontinent between summer and winter. In winter, the winds blow off the continent to the SW and in summer (starting in May) they blow from the SE. The wind shift is associated with heavy rains over India in the summer which are relied on for crops.
    Plot examples using the atlas:
    • Annual time series of precipitation rates over India.
      Choose in atlas:
      1. For statistic: longterm monthly mean
      2. For variable: precipitation rate
      3. For type:lat by time
      4. For time: Jan to Dec
      5. For latitude: 0N to 40N
      6. For longitude to average over: 60E and 100E
      7. For options: color fill and reverse color bar

      This plot illustrates the annual cycle of precipitation over India. Note that the heavy precipitation starts in May and has a slight tendency to move to the north through the summer.Questions that could be asked about this plot include: 1) Why does the precipitation start in May? What kind of wind flow would tend to accompany this pattern? Why does the maximum stop around 30N

    • Wind flow in June and January
      Choose:
      1. For statistic: long term monthly mean
      2. For variable: wind vectors
      3. For type: lat by lon
      4. For time:June (for second plot choose January)
      5. For level: 1000mb (near the surface)
      6. For latitude: 0N to 40N
      7. For longitude: 60E to 100E
      8. For plot options: solid fill
      What kind of pressure/temperature pattern would lead to the winds shown? Why are the winds stronger over the ocean?
    • Surface temperature over year over India
      1. For statistic: long term monthly mean
      2. For variable: air temperature
      3. For type: lat by level
      4. For time:June
      5. For latitude: 0N to 40N
      6. For longitude: 65E to 90E
      7. For plot options: solid fill , color reverse
      The air temperature increase in the summer with the maximum tending to move to the north through the summer. Note the similarity between the precipitation maximum and teh temperature maximum. For the student: 1) What kind of air flow would tend to accompany the increased temperature. Why would the maximum move to the north? Why does the maximum not go above 30N?
    • Vertical motion over India (negative values are upward)
      1. For statistic: long term monthly mean
      2. For variable: air temperature
      3. For type: lat by level
      4. For time:June
      5. For latitude: 0N to 40N
      6. For longitude: 65E to 90E
      7. For plot options: solid fill , color reverse
      How does the vertical motion relate to rainfall? Do you see any vertical motion you don't expect? Why might that be?
    Further questions: How does the monsoon vary from year to year (look at individual monthly means)? Are there other regions why there is a similar monsoon circulation in the world? What are the major terms in the heat budget in the region? Where does the moisture for the heavy rains come from? How does orography accect the flow and the rainfall

  • El Nino examples
    El Nino refers to the quasi-periodic increase in ocean temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific and the resulting circulation changes. El Nino can affect climate in regions away from the tropics.
    • SST plot
      1. For statistic: Longterm monthly mwan
      2. For variable: Surface air temperature
      3. For type: lat by lon
      4. For time:Jan
      5. For latitude: 25S to 25N
      6. For longitude: 110E to 290E
      7. For plot options: solid fill
    • SST anomaly plot 1982-83
      1. For statistic: Anomaly
      2. For variable: Surface air temperature
      3. For type: lat by lon
      4. For time: Dec 1982
      5. For latitude: 25S to 25N
      6. For longitude: 110E to 290E
      7. For plot options: solid fill
    • local wind field plot
      1. For statistic: Anomaly
      2. For variable: zonal wind
      3. For type: lat by lon
      4. For time: Dec 1982
      5. For latitude: 25S to 25N
      6. For longitude: 110E to 290E
      7. For plot options: solid fill , color reverse
    • Precipitation anomalies over globe
      1. For statistic: Long term monthly mean
      2. For variable: precipiation rate
      3. For type: lat by lon
      4. For time: Dec to Feb
      5. For latitude: 90S to 90N
      6. For longitude: 0E to 360E
      7. For plot options: solid fill , color reverse
    • Precipitation anomalies over globe
      1. For statistic: Anomaly
      2. For variable: precipiation rate
      3. For type: lat by lon
      4. For time: Dec 1982 to Fen 1983
      5. For latitude: 90S to 90N
      6. For longitude: 0E to 360E
      7. For plot options: solid fill , color reverse
  • Other ideas
    1. Geostrophic Wind: wind speed is proportional to horizontal pressure gradients. Examine pressure fields, examine wind speeds.
    2. Thermal wind:
    3. Hydrostatic relationship:relationship of Temperature and pressure with height
    4. Stability
    5. Hadley Cell
    6. ITCZ
    7. QBO
    8. Heat budgets
    9. Moisture Budgets