The Interaction Of Atmospheric Rivers And High-Pressure Systems

Abstract

As Midlatitude Pacific storms migrate east, some develop moisture plumes that can stretch from the western United States to Hawaii. These events are commonly known as atmospheric rivers (ARs) and have been associated with some of worst flooding in the western United States. There is evidence that both extratropical ARs and low-level high-pressure systems form near the Hawaiian Islands, and the low-level high-pressure system aids moisture transport into the AR. Four AR events were analyzed, and this study found that ARs from these extratropical cyclones 1) result from the interaction of the surface high- and low-pressure system centers to form major (Pineapple Express) AR events; 2) are fed moisture from the high-pressure system to the east; and 3) have different relative sources of moisture that impact on observed downstream precipitation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2020
Accession Number
AD1127135

Entities

People

  • Justin P. Van Es

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • California
  • Case Studies
  • Climate
  • Cold Fronts
  • Computer Programs
  • Department Of Defense
  • High Pressure
  • Jet Streams
  • Meteorology
  • Moisture
  • North America
  • Ridges
  • Rivers
  • Satellite Imaging
  • Sea Level
  • Trajectories
  • United States
  • Water
  • Water Vapor

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Coastal and Marine Engineering/Sediment Transport/Hydraulic Engineering
  • Solar Photovoltaics and Thermoelectric Devices.