Recognition and Impact of Vorticity Maxima and Minima in Satellite Imagery

• Introduction
  • What is Vorticity
• Vorticity Maxima
  • Overview
  • Physical Background
    • Development of a Comma Pattern
    • Morphology of a Comma Pattern
    • Other Considerations
  • Analysis
  • Interpretation
  • Implication
  • Exercise
• Vorticity Minima
  • Overview
  • Physical Background
    • Development of a Anticomma Pattern
    • Morphology of a Anticomma Pattern
    • Other Considerations
  • Analysis
  • Interpretation
  • Implication
  • Exercise

Other Considerations

• With both patterns, the comma tail is associated with the warm conveyor belt. Vorticity advection will be minimal in this region. The comma tail begins at the upstream long wave trough.
• It is very important to remember that all satellite features are generated by system-relative motions.
• If moisture elements on the poleward side of the cyclonic circulation are stationary or moving westward with respect to the earth's surface, the vorticity maximum is actually a closed upper low or cold core low.