The "Ridiculously Resilient Ridge" off California's coast - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cmac2012 · #1 01-16-2014, 12:47 PM

California drought: What's causing it? - San Jose Mercury News

Quote:

As California struggles through a run of historically dry weather, most residents are looking at falling reservoir levels, dusty air and thirsty lawns.

But meteorologists have fixed their attention on the scientific phenomenon they say is to blame for the emerging drought: a vast zone of high pressure in the atmosphere off the West Coast, nearly four miles high and 2,000 miles long, so stubborn that one researcher has dubbed it the "Ridiculously Resilient Ridge."

Like a brick wall, the mass of high pressure air has been blocking Pacific winter storms from coming ashore in California, deflecting them up into Alaska and British Columbia, even delivering rain and cold weather to the East Coast. Similar high-pressure zones pop up all the time during most winters, but they usually break down, allowing rain to get through to California. This one, ominously, has anchored itself for 13 months, since December 2012, making it unprecedented in modern weather records and leaving researchers scratching their heads.

"It's like the Sierra -- a mountain range just sitting off the West Coast -- only bigger," said Bob Benjamin, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Monterey. "This ridge is sort of a mountain in the atmosphere. In most years, it comes and goes. This year it came and didn't go."

The current high-pressure ridge is even stronger and more persistent than a similar ridge that parked over the Pacific Ocean during the 1976-77 drought, one of the driest in the 20th century.

Scientists know that changes in temperature cause high- and low-pressure zones around the world. In many ways, air works like water. The deeper you swim in the ocean, the stronger the water pressure, because the weight of the water above is pressing down on the water below. Air in the atmosphere also has weight, and as temperatures of the ocean and land fluctuate, the atmospheric pressure also changes, helping drive much of our weather.

Mr.Kenny · #2 01-16-2014, 12:58 PM

Sigh;...Obviously Global Warming; Duh.

Jim B. · #3 01-16-2014, 01:02 PM

I'm still in San Francisco today.

It's the warmest January day I can ever remember in the 35 years I lived there.

I love it!

Global warming what's that

cmac2012 · #4 01-16-2014, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Kenny

Sigh;...Obviously Global Warming; Duh.

I said that? What, is your default setting to not look? You have your conclusion already?

cmac2012 · #5 01-16-2014, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

I'm still in San Francisco today.

It's the warmest January day I can ever remember in the 35 years I lived there.

I love it!

Global warming what's that

Not that my angst will make any difference but this shyte worries the hell out of me. Imagine this goes on for another year. It's happened in human history before. If unprecedented drought hit this state, would be a huge hit to national prosperity, to say the least.

MTI · #6 01-16-2014, 01:12 PM

If you want cold in San Francisco, you have to go June to August when fog get's thick.

cmac2012 · #7 01-18-2014, 03:46 AM

Well there is that. Yesterday in B-Town, it was 74 degrees. That's warm for even here. Just felt weird.

elchivito · #8 01-18-2014, 08:29 AM

For those whose only concern with the weather is wardrobe related I can see how this is heaven. We are feeling the effects east of you. Warm days are nice, but it's bone dry. January and I am running drip lines round the clock to all the trees. Spring will bring no grass, and the flies will arrive early and in biblical numbers.

NOAA 3 month outlook

elchivito · #9 01-18-2014, 08:36 AM

Like a giant fence. Look at all the lows backing up west of it.

elchivito · #10 01-18-2014, 08:38 AM

Sorry about the img size, shoulda shrunk it..

Botnst · #11 01-18-2014, 11:12 AM

Californians living in the chaparral is like Louisianans living in New Orleans. Sooner or later you're gonna see a disaster in your yard.

iwrock · #12 01-18-2014, 01:47 PM

Yeah, been riding my street bike for the past few days... Been 72* during the says which is odd... But awesome!

Jim B. · #13 01-18-2014, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

For those whose only concern with the weather is wardrobe related I can see how this is heaven.

Have to agree with you there. 'Specially if you got a g/f that agrees, too!

barry12345 · #14 01-18-2014, 09:05 PM

Usually in eastern Canada we have a January thaw. The current one is underway and lasting much longer than I recollect they do. Not that we are complaining. It just seems unusual.

Most days do not even require home heat for approaching two weeks now. Some nights or the majority still require some.

Normally it gets really cold about the last week of December and continues well into January with a couple of days in that period as a break. If what is happening in general goes on for another week yet would be amazing.

It is snowing this evening but the ground is too warm to let it accumulate.

Jorn · #15 01-18-2014, 09:52 PM

This time of the year I normally do a 360˚on the 101fw.