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What do you think weather in United States be like if there were no Rocky Mountains and western United States as a whole was more lower in elevation as well (so no high Great Basin elevation either)? While at it let's remove the Cascade Mountains as well.
Let's say Denver's one mile elevation above sea level gets dropped to 800 ft above sea level or less.
Let's say Seattle is flat as Chicago or Miami.
Etc...
What do you think weather in United States be like if there were no Rocky Mountains and western United States as a whole was more lower in elevation as well (so no high Great Basin elevation either)? While at it let's remove the Cascade Mountains as well.
Let's say Denver's one mile elevation above sea level gets dropped to 800 ft above sea level or less.
Let's say Seattle is flat as Chicago or Miami.
Etc...
Less cold snaps east of the Rockies due to a more stable jet stream
What do you think weather in United States be like if there were no Rocky Mountains and western United States as a whole was more lower in elevation as well
Quote:
Originally Posted by deneb78
Less cold snaps east of the Rockies due to a more stable jet stream
Pattern
Quote:
Originally Posted by Warszawa
This. Also more moderate air coming in from the Pacific
Pattern
Quote:
Originally Posted by deneb78
Certainly fewer than there are now
Pattern
Those are all true only if the pattern supports it. Obviously Ridges will still pop in the West, Canadian air will still drop in the East. But if the Jet stream is flat and zonal, then yeah, plains would be hotter, less Tornadoes, more moderation, but East of Mississippi not much change.
You have to understand 2 things.
1. There's more than just the jet stream (850mb temp airmasses, ect) and
2. Patterns still happen with or without the Rockies
Lets take current pattern right now..
See the Jet Stream and the upper level flow?
If Rockies weren't there, this flow would still look like this today.
Notice the slight dip in the east and the cooler air dropping into the Upper mid west and Ontario, that would still happen. Arctic air would still be able to pour down. Obviously we're in the middle of summer so my example isn't the best but use your imagination. Ridges and Troughs happen with or without the Rockies.
Now.. For the plains... Right now they are getting the downslope of the Rockies.. one can make the claim that they would be hotter in this type of pattern as the Mexican heat from the Rockies region comes across into them..
and here are the current temps to match that map
So if you tell me western Nebraska and South Dakota would be in the 80s right now without the Rockies, I'd buy that because the 6000+ foot level is in the 50s & 60s over the Rockies right now so if there was no down sloping of cooler air, there would be more heat there.
Those are all true only if the pattern supports it. Obviously Ridges will still pop in the West, Canadian air will still drop in the East. But if the Jet stream is flat and zonal, then yeah, plains would be hotter, less Tornadoes, more moderation, but East of Mississippi not much change.
You have to understand 2 things.
1. There's more than just the jet stream (850mb temp airmasses, ect) and
2. Patterns still happen with or without the Rockies
Lets take current pattern right now..
See the Jet Stream and the upper level flow?
If Rockies weren't there, this flow would still look like this today.
Notice the slight dip in the east and the cooler air dropping into the Upper mid west and Ontario, that would still happen. Arctic air would still be able to pour down. Obviously we're in the middle of summer so my example isn't the best but use your imagination. Ridges and Troughs happen with or without the Rockies.
Now.. For the plains... Right now they are getting the downslope of the Rockies.. one can make the claim that they would be hotter in this type of pattern as the Mexican heat from the Rockies region comes across into them..
and here are the current temps to match that map
So if you tell me western Nebraska and South Dakota would be in the 80s right now without the Rockies, I'd buy that because the 6000+ foot level is in the 50s & 60s over the Rockies right now so if there was no down sloping of cooler air, there would be more heat there.
Nice analysis, but will it make us more prone to a zonal flow at all if we lose the Rockies? I agree east of the Mississippi, especially east of the Appalachian mountains, will change the least. Also how will this affect the troughs that crash in the PNW in winter? They normally bring the biggest blizzards such as the one this January, will we see enhanced winter precipitation under this scenario as more moisture from the pacific reaches us? This could be a boon to snow lovers on the east coast!
The pacific ocean and the gulf of Alaska is really what drives the weather. The cold air moves down from the north, but the Pacific pushes back. The Rockies also push back, but not to the same degree.
Wouldn't be more prone to zonal because the Rockies dont make or alter the pattern/jet stream. As Glacierx said, look to the Pacific for that. I'll add to look to the Atlantic as well but more for speed purposes. Imo
We can talk about some weather and climate affects west of Mississippi river without them but patterns will still be patterns.
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