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The Rockies influence is not immediate but in making cold air masses to the east dig southward.
But look at the map again. The divide is about 114W. Notice that the cold air goes right out west of this point as well. ie. The temperatures rise as you go west of this point at at least the same rate as going east.
EDIT: Here's the graph for 60N. It's amazing how much the temperature drops across the Yukon, and doesn't continue across the NWT.
45N is quite interesting. Notice how Michigan are warmer than areas east and west. Lots of variation out west in Montana because of huge ups and downs in elevation.
45N is quite interesting. Notice how Michigan are warmer than areas east and west. Lots of variation out west in Montana because of huge ups and downs in elevation.
Interesting for Michigan, something to do with the lakes I guess.
Here's what the 50N graph looks like for North America. The low bottoms out at Smoky Falls, Ontario, which is much further east than I expected, though I guess it makes sense (thank you Hudson Bay). Another thing I expected was to see a quick change as soon as you crossed the Rockies, but the change is constant on both sides of the mountains. You can't even tell where the divide is by this map, and I'm not even adjusting for elevation.
you can see in January the geopotential height is higher in the west than east
is the cause mountains? Not obvious
To me it looks more like the Hudson Bay low has a bigger impact. If it's the Rockies, why is the impact greater where the mountains are lower (in the north)?
To me it looks more like the Hudson Bay low has a bigger impact. If it's the Rockies, why is the impact greater where the mountains are lower (in the north)?
The reason the US east is so cold and western Europe/US is so warm is because of the Rockies which drive the Jetstream north over the west then south to Alabama before it heads north once more over the atlantic.
The reason the US east is so cold and western Europe/US is so warm is because of the Rockies which drive the Jetstream north over the west then south to Alabama before it heads north once more over the atlantic.
But why do the mountains push the jet stream north? Why does the lack of mountains push it south again? Wouldn't they push the Jet Stream UP instead? Also, what about the other mountain ranges? Serra, Nevada, Cascade, Coast, etc. Do they have any roll in this? Here in Canada the Coast Mountains are taller than the Rockies, so why just the Rockies?
If you want outrageous , check out Seattle v St Johns NF ,Canada on the exact same line . Warmer in every month by a distance , Seattle much sunnier ,and guess what ? yep ,as much rain again in St Johns .
Folk moan about Seatlle - ,why ? Have they not heard of St Johns - someone should tell them .
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