Depression Klaus- 2009

• You will be able to describe the passage of depression Klaus over the 23rd and 24th of January.

Objectives

• You will be able to identify the different stages in the development of depression Klaus using satellite and temperature maps.

• You will be able to offer reasons for why depression Klaus was particularly intense compared to other storms.

Differences between polar and equatorial temperatures influence the power and strength of depressions. Weather systems help ‘normalise these differences’. At the time of the depression there was a strong temperature gradient across the

Atlantic.

Unusually for this depression it began further south than

normal, therefore it was fed by warm

and moist air from the Caribbean.

January 23rd Midnight.

Old, decaying weather system over Iceland.

Isobars getting closer together

Cloud associated with the warm conveyor.

Developing ‘hook’ of cloud caused by the

cold conveyor.

Band of warm air feeding the depression.

January 23rd Midnight.

January 23rd Midday.

Intense area of low pressure.

Cloud associated with the warm conveyor.

Cloud associated with the cold conveyor-

wrapped around the low.

January 23rd Midday.

Warm conveyor can be clearly seen.

Cold, polar air getting wrapped around behind

the area of low pressure.

January 23rd Seven p.m.

Intense area of rainfall as the warm front

travels over the Bay of Biscay.

January 24th Midnight

Intense depression- tightly packed isobars.

Warm conveyor belt has been cut off from the

system.

Cold conveyor is now wrapped tightly around

the system.

January 24th Midnight

Warm conveyor belt has been cut off from the system by the hook of

the cold conveyor.

January 24th Midnight

Area of lowest pressure, show by the tightly

packed isobars.

Cold front

Warm frontOccluded front

January 24th Midnight

Intense area of rainfall as the cold front travels over the Bay of Biscay.

January 24th Six am

Rainfall begins to become less intense.

January 24th Midday

Cloud associated with the cold conveyor is

starting to decay.

Another weather system to the West begins to develop.

January 24th Midday

Cold air associated with the previous system can be clearly seen over the

UK, France and Germany.

New band of warm air, associated with the new

weather system.

Can you?

Identify depression Klaus.

Identify the area of lowest pressure.

Identify the warm conveyor cloud.

Identify the cold conveyor cloud head.