WHAT IS A THERMAL TROUGH (RIDGE)?
METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY
A thermal trough is a region of synoptic scale cooler temperatures while a thermal ridge is a region of synoptic scale warmer temperatures. The word thermal is a descriptor of temperature, trough a descriptor of "lower values", and ridge a descriptor of "higher values". Thermal troughs and ridges are closely related to the trough and ridge height contour patterns. Thermal troughs tend to be located underneath height contour troughs (behind cold front) and thermal ridges tend to be located underneath height contour ridges. Thermal ridges are common in the warm sector of a mid-latitude cyclone. This region often experiences WAA. A synoptic region of strong CAA will create a thermal trough while WAA a thermal ridge. The jet stream and mid-latitude cyclones propagate the thermal field.
METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY
A thermal trough is a region of synoptic scale cooler temperatures while a thermal ridge is a region of synoptic scale warmer temperatures. The word thermal is a descriptor of temperature, trough a descriptor of "lower values", and ridge a descriptor of "higher values". Thermal troughs and ridges are closely related to the trough and ridge height contour patterns. Thermal troughs tend to be located underneath height contour troughs (behind cold front) and thermal ridges tend to be located underneath height contour ridges. Thermal ridges are common in the warm sector of a mid-latitude cyclone. This region often experiences WAA. A synoptic region of strong CAA will create a thermal trough while WAA a thermal ridge. The jet stream and mid-latitude cyclones propagate the thermal field.
