This is Indonesia and Australia. It is easy to see the equator above. The satellite below easily notes the intensified heat at the lower latitudes (by lower I mean lower numbers 0 to 20) of the northern hemisphere and virtually none in the southern hemisphere. This will change quickly as the sun equates more of it's direct rays to the lower southern latitudes. This is a really unique view of Earth and it's relationship with Sol and I am happy I caught it today. Nice.
August 13, 2007
2107 gmt
Western Pacific Satellite
August 13, 2007
1917 gmt
South Pole and majority of Southern Hemisphere
The southern hemisphere is freezing. WOW. Haven't seen this before. I'll try to explain. Autumn/the equatorial equinox is September 21st, I believe. I'll get the exact reference in a minute, but, as the equinox gets closer, the rays of the sun are less and less at an angle to Earth. Once the sun gets to approximately latitude 30 north the angle to the south of 'direct' light is far less than when the sun is at 45 north. To take this a little further, when the sun reaches equinox the direct sunlight is exactly at the equator and the 'hottest' rays are not directed at much of the north or south, but, at the sun travels at an angle to earth on it's axis there is more 'direct' rays that actually travel to both hemispheres the greater the angle. I don't know if there an internet visual. I'll check, but, at any rate New Zealand is frozen.
Kaitaia is the northern most city at about 36 south latitude (click here, play with the temperature map and realize how cold southern New Zealand is to the northern island realizing the latitude is not THAT much different.) If I am not mistaken New Zealand falls in entirety between 36 south and 46 south yet the weather is so drastically different today, especially the temperatures. It's a good example of what I am trying to say. 36 south is receiving more sun than 46 south today and the south polar vortex is simply making things extremely cold because of it.
Today
Cloudy periods, evening showers.
South easterlies.
High: 16° (60 F)
Low: 12° (53 F)
Wednesday 15/08
Mostly cloudy, with showers.
Australia across the nation today has an average high of 10 C (50 F), realizing there is nearly no percipitation (click here, this is a fun aussie weather site - run the curser over the map and one can get accurate longitude and latitude measurements). There is also a lot of air turbulence over Australia and New Zealand causing rapid changes to weather. However, today, the southern hemisphere is under the domination of the South Pole Vortex which nearly reaches to the equator due to the lower angle of the sun. That reach can also wane from day to day depending on the increased heat at the lower latitudes of 10 north and 10 south. I'll but a satellite above the one of the southern hemisphere which clearly illustrates the high heat above the equator and the lack of below the equator as the sun equates it's direct light.
August 13, 2008
0600 gmt
Antarctica Jet Stream (animated in reduced size click here)
The higher elevations are still under a primarily consistent jet stream. The air at the higher latitudes are heavier/colder than warmer/lower latitude/lighter/less dense areas and the movement of the Antarctica air mass is from the coldest area moving outward to the shoreline and lower altitudes. There is an intrusion of air from the southwest to the west over WAIS. East Antarctica is nearly undisturbed by incoming warmer ocean air.
August 13, 2007
One of two 3 PM views.
Antarctica. It is cold across the continent in all reporting stations.
Coldest areas:
Clean Air
Temperature :: -96 °F / -71 °C
Humidity :: N/A%
Pressure :: 28.00 in / 948 hPa
Conditions :: Ice Crystals
Wind :: East at 9 mph / 15 km/h / 4.1 m/s
5:50 AM NZST
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica
6:00 AM NZST
Elevation :: 9285 ft / 2830 m
Temperature :: -95 °F / -71 °C
Conditions :: Snow
Wind :: 8 mph / 13 km/h / from the East
Wind Gust :: -
Pressure :: in / hPa (Rising)
Visibility :: 7.0 miles / 11.0 kilometers
Aviation
Flight Rule :: VFR ()
Wind Speed :: 8 mph / 13 km/h /
Wind Dir :: 100° (East)
Ceiling :: 100000 ft / 100000 m
Vostok, Antarctica
12:00 AM VOST
Elevation :: 11220 ft / 3420 m
Temperature :: -91 °F / -68 °C
Humidity :: 40%
Dew Point :: -97 °F / -71 °C
Wind :: 5 mph / 7 km/h / from the WSW
Wind Gust :: -
Pressure :: in / hPa (Steady)
Visibility :: 12.0 miles / 20.0 kilometers
Aviation
Flight Rule :: VFR ()
Wind Speed :: 5 mph / 7 km/h /
Wind Dir :: 240° (WSW)
Ceiling :: 100000 ft / 100000 m
Warmest areas:
Base Orcadas, Antarctica
7:00 PM GST
Elevation :: 20 ft / 6 m
Temperature :: 30 °F / -1 °C
Conditions :: Mist
Humidity :: 97%
Dew Point :: 29 °F / -1 °C
Wind :: 9 mph / 15 km/h / from the South
Wind Gust :: -
Pressure :: 29.00 in / 982 hPa (Rising)
Visibility :: 2.0 miles / 3.0 kilometers
UV :: 0 out of 16
Clouds:
Mostly Cloudy 295 ft / 90 m
Scattered Clouds 2953 ft / 900 m
(Above Ground Level)
Great Wall, Antarctica
6:00 PM GMT
Elevation :: 33 ft / 10 m
Temperature :: 22 °F / -6 °C
Conditions :: Partly Cloudy
Humidity :: 69%
Dew Point :: 16 °F / -9 °C
Wind :: 2 mph / 4 km/h / from the SW
Wind Gust :: -
Pressure :: 29.04 in / 983 hPa (Rising)
Visibility :: 19.0 miles / 30.0 kilometers
Aviation
Flight Rule :: VFR ()
Wind Speed :: 2 mph / 4 km/h /
Wind Dir :: 230° (SW)
Ceiling :: 100000 ft / 100000 m
continued...
