Mid-latitude Frontal Cyclones - Formation, Development, and Forecasting

Explore the formation and characteristics of mid-latitude frontal cyclones in this 43-minute lecture from Yale University's "The Atmosphere, the Ocean and Environmental Change" course. Learn how these storms gain energy from temperature gradients and develop within the belt of westerly winds. Discover the lifecycle of a frontal cyclone, from its initial kink in the polar front to the formation of warm and cold fronts around a low-pressure center. Examine the nor'easter as a specific example of this storm type, common in New England. Compare cyclone behavior in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, and gain insights into weather forecasting techniques. The lecture is divided into five chapters, covering mid-latitude frontal cyclones, their lifecycle, nor'easters, Southern Hemisphere cyclones, and weather forecasting.