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This is absolutely false for several reasons, but first of all your "steps" above are not how B.C. gets arctic air masses. If it were, they'd get an arctic blast EVERY TIME a big Pacific storm came ashore, which they obviously don't...they get hundreds of Pacific storms per season, and at most a few minor arctic blasts....
Learn to read:
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Originally Posted by Texyn
It just so happens that the east coasts of North America and Eurasia have no such protection from colder air, and so are subject to colder temperatures than expected for their latitudes. Meanwhile, their western coasts all have some type of barrier to the north that mitigates the polar air: for Eurasia, it's the North Sea, Alps, Pyrenees, etc, and for North America, it's the Brooks Range, Rockies, Cascades, etc.
So once again: whether or not winter cold is severe depends on the presence or absence of geographic barriers. East vs west does not matter.
East-west does matter....prevailing winds are westerlies...
West of PNW is the big blue Pacific Ocean.
West of me and maybe you is a giant land mass ....We wish we had a big ocean
just our west. A whole different ballgame.
Again, if the PNW had deep landmass to the NW large enough to sustain a cold pool, with no mountains to block anything, then they'd be getting cold with every passing storm. Because while the prevailing westerlies bring mild Pacific air, they also bring in storm systems which drag down cold air from the north thanks to their cyclonic spin.
But it doesn't, that's the whole point...it's on the west coast of a continent, therefore there is no big landmass to the west! You're basically saying that if the PNW was in the east, it would have cold winters..?
The barrier you keep talking about is A) not much of a barrier to cold air, and B) is only a barrier to a non-prevailing flow of air, from the east. When the air masses do switch to easterly flow in winter (a very uncommon scenario) the mountains don't offer much protection, in fact they funnel arctic air to the coast. The mountains do not matter (much). The flow of air from the west/the ocean is what matters more.
Again, basic meteorology shows that air masses in the mid-latitudes flow from west to east, and that big bodies of water act as heat sinks. These two facts combined tell you everything you need to know about eastern vs. western coasts in the mid-latitudes. The mountains are an interesting detail, nothing more. They reduce mild air penetrating further into the continent (unlike Europe) but that's about it. Even if they weren't there, the east coast of the US would be continental, not maritime.
Last edited by unobtainium; 04-06-2018 at 10:34 PM..
But it doesn't, that's the whole point...it's on the west coast of a continent, therefore there is no big landmass to the west! You're basically saying that if the PNW was in the east, it would have cold winters..?
The barrier you keep talking about is A) not much of a barrier to cold air, and B) is only a barrier to a non-prevailing flow of air, from the east. When the air masses do switch to easterly flow in winter (a very uncommon scenario) the mountains don't offer much protection, in fact they funnel arctic air to the coast. The mountains do not matter (much). The flow of air from the west/the ocean is what matters more.
Again, basic meteorology shows that air masses in the mid-latitudes flow from west to east, and that big bodies of water act as heat sinks. These two facts combined tell you everything you need to know about eastern vs. western coasts in the mid-latitudes. The mountains are an interesting detail, nothing more. They reduce mild air penetrating further into the continent (unlike Europe) but that's about it. Even if they weren't there, the east coast of the US would be continental, not maritime.
Everything you're saying is contrary to how actual meteorologists explain the differences between west and east. I've provided links, explained in detail..and yet you're the one smacking your head.
Okay, try this: if the North Sea supposedly "protects" Western Europe from cold, then why doesn't Hudson Bay protect Eastern Canada?
Everything you're saying is contrary to how actual meteorologists explain the differences between west and east. I've provided links, explained in detail..and yet you're the one smacking your head.
I've given you numerous explanations as to why east vs west doesn't matter ... yet you're the one who's still confused.
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Okay, try this: if the North Sea supposedly "protects" Western Europe from cold, then why doesn't Hudson Bay protect Eastern Canada?
Hudson Bay is a small, shallow sea surrounded by land. Therefore, unlike the deeper, more open North Sea, the temperature would cool down faster at Hudson, and it gets iced over, completely eliminating any moderation effect.
Now you try this: if east vs west matters, as you say, then why aren't record lows in Australia colder on the east coast than on the west coast? South Africa? South America? How about India?
Everything you're saying is contrary to how actual meteorologists explain the differences between west and east. I've provided links, explained in detail..and yet you're the one smacking your head.
Okay, try this: if the North Sea supposedly "protects" Western Europe from cold, then why doesn't Hudson Bay protect Eastern Canada?
Its not the North Sea! Its the gulf stream, its the Atlantic that 'protects' Western Europe from the cold.
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