Transcribing the Thermal Flows of the Jet Stream
An exploration of Atmospheric Circulation, Pressure Systems and Methods of Recording Meteorological Data
Contents Introduction Key Terms The Jet Stream & Climate Change Timeline of Events Climate Forecasting 01. Tropospheric Cartographies Meteorological Monitoring System Dynamic Weather Systems Stationary Weather Systems Historical UK Pressure Scenarios 02. Fluid Dynamics Set-Up Jet Stream Patterns Patterns of the Northern Hemisphere Cyclonic & Anti-cyclonic Behaviour 03. Jet Stream Transcripts The Drawing Machine Apparatus Functionality The Device in Action Measurable Data Transcripts 04. Site and Spatial Investigations Discerning a site Site Visit Local Customs and Vernacular Geological Investigations Site Analysis 05. Design Intent Masterplan Climate Beacon Stakeholders and Programme Timeline Form Generation 06. Design Realisation Overview Ground Floor Plan Section In Tune with the Wind Climate Compass Responsive Facade Climate Conference Upper Floor Plan Stone Etchings Physical Model 01 02 03 04 06 07 09 11 13 14 15 17 18 19 23 21 22 33 38
1 Key Terms
Terms
The jet stream is driven by the contrast in temperature between the cool air over the Arctic, and the warmer air closer to the equator.
As the Arctic warms - at a faster rate than it does in the mid-latitudes, also known as “Arctic Amplification” - the North-South temperature difference decreases, which can weaken the jet stream, causing it to meander and split up.
The amplification of these waves means that cool air from the polar cell is carried further south, and warm air from the ferrel cell is brought further to the North. In such instances, extreme weather events can occur, and stay put for longer.
Usual jet stream pattern without global warming
The Jet Stream &
& Climate Change
As a result of a weakening jet stream, the cyclones and anticyclones either side of the peaks and troughs in the waves remain stationary over areas of the globe for longer than usual. These are associated with extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and storms.
Stationary high pressure systems - also known as blocks** - disrupt the flow of the jet stream, which usually carries cooler air. In such an instance, these cooler weather fronts are instead diverted to the north.
The increased persistence of high-pressure blocks in the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, in combination with surface-level anthropogenic effects on global warming, gives rise to more intense heatwaves.
Theories around the projected frequency of stationary patterns in response to climate change are somewhat speculative, however, studies show that a 10o shift north could cause ten times as many blocking events associated with extreme weather, in the mid-latitudes of the northern hemisphere.***
* Diagram traced from www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/weather/how-weather-works/high-and-low-pressure/blocks **Refer to blocking in the glossary (page 1) *** https://www.science.org/content/article/why-does-weather-stall-new-theories-explain-enigmatic-blocks-jet-stream Omega Block * Diffluent Block Amplified jet stream pattern due to global warming
3 Timeline
Timeline of events
https://earth.nullschool.net/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/past-uk-weather-events
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/past-uk-weather-events
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3 of events
4 Climate Forecasting UK MET Office Classified
Forecasting
Classified Pressure Scenarios
A Typical Forecast Chart used by the MET office*: The number in each cell indicates the % probability of each of the 30 patterns (left) occuring.
Seasonal Forecast Models:
The 30 patterns are condensed into eight that describe longer term, seasonal weather patterns.
Transcribing these with the addition of the Jet Stream between the air masses serves as a key for the following more detailed climate cartographies.
* https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/news/2016/new-weather-patterns-for-uk-and-europe
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02/01 03/01 04/01 05/01 06/01 07/01 08/01 09/01 10/01 Pattern 1 2 40 Pattern 2 16 2 2 Pattern 3 6 4 2 Pattern 4 2 30 4 Pattern 5 98 60 20 Pattern 6 33 5 Pattern 7 12 10 2 Pattern 8 15 Pattern 9 Pattern 10
01. Tropospheric Cartographies
Illustrating climatic aspects of weather systems across the northern hemisphere
Climate observation through apparatus at different layers
6 Meteorological Monitoring
Monitoring System
layers of the atmosphere, and the management of airspace
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/ 02 / 2020
UK Minimum Pressure: 943 mb
UK Maximum Wind Speed: >85kt
Data sourced from: Panoply: https://rda.ucar.edu/ CEDA Archive: https://catalogue.ceda.ac.uk/uuid/4dc8450d889a491ebb20e724debe2dfb
7 An Atmospheric Dynamic Weather Pressure Isobar Contours Jet Stream Vectors: High Low High Low Humidity:
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Storm Ciara
Weather Patterns
7 Atmospheric
River
250 mb 500 mb Surface + 2m
8 Dynamic Weather Storm Ciara 22 / 02 / 2020 UK Minimum Pressure: UK Maximum Wind
Weather Systems
Correlating tropospheric wind and pressure to ground level temperature, humidity and flooding effects.
Ciara
2020
Pressure: 943 mb
Speed: >85kt
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Section through the UK at 2.5 o W longitude
UK Maximum Pressure:
UK Minimum Temperature:
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Stationary Weather
from the 27 / 02 / 2018
Beast
Weather Systems
Correlating tropospheric wind and pressure to ground level temperature, humidity and frost.
the East
2018
Pressure: 1035 mb
Temperature: -14 oc
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Section through the UK at 2.5 o W longitude
Maximum Pressure:
Maximum Temperature:
10 Stationary Weather Our Hottest Summer 19 / 07 / 2022 UK
UK
Weather Systems
Correlating tropospheric wind and pressure to ground level temperature, humidity and drought.
Summer on Record
2022
Pressure: 1032 mb
Temperature: 40 oc
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11 Historical UK Pressure
Pressure Extremes
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Title
02. Fluid Dynamics of the
Simulating high altitude wind flows and heat exchanges
Title
the Upper Atmosphere
exchanges through high & low pressure systems
Modelling geometry to process in CFD to achieve The movement of air particles in the jet stream (1), the thermal exchange in a vertical column of air - as occurs
Solid geometry serves as volumes of air, their boundary surfaces used as inlets
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Set-Up Diagrams
Volume flow rate Velocity / Pressure Meandering Stream (1) Shaped by (anti-)cyclones (1) 10-100 m3/s 10-100 m3/s 50 m3/s 50 m3/s 10-100 m3/s 10-100 m3/s 50 m3/s 50 m3/s LOW LOW HIGH HIGH
Diagrams
achieve an illustrative output that demonstrates: occurs in a high or low pressure system (2) and the global scale thresholds of temperature in the mid-latitudes. inlets and outlets for velocity, pressure, volume flow rate, and heat exchange.
Temperature: High / Low Heat Exchanger Inlet / Outlet
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Anti-Cyclone
5oc 40oc 5oc 40oc OUTLET INLET INLET OUTLET
Cyclone (2)
(2)
13 Simulating global atmospheric circulation through chamfered spherical geometry, with cylindrical nodes representing
Relatively strong jet stream Weakened jet, bigger Introducing temperature Alternate volume flow rates, rotational volumes (3) 5oC VELOCITY IN PRESSURE OUT ROTATIONAL VELOCITY ANTI - / CLOCKWISE
Patterns in the Northern
Northern Hemisphere
representing cyclones and anticyclones, and heat exchange between the the cool northern and warmer southern latitudes.
bigger latitude range
Jet stream bifurcation due to blocking patterns
temperature and heat exchange
Thermal threshold meshes
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Temperature 5 oc 30oc Velocity 250 kt 0 kt
(3) 50oC
Thermal Flows of the Northern
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Northern Hemisphere
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5 oc 30oc Temperature
Cyclonic & Anti-Cyclonic
Introducing the vertical column of air that transports thermal energy between the jet stream flow and thermal exchange between the cyclone and anticyclone allowed for two
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Cyclone Warm-air Divergence Anti-Cyclone Cool-air Convergence Anti-Cyclone Clockwise Rotational Velocity 0.75 x h 0.5 x h 0.25 x h
Horizontal plane cuts
Anti-Cyclonic Behaviour
stream and ground level. The opposing characteristics of rotational velocity, vertical air simulations using the same geometry, swapping over the inlet and outlet surfaces.
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Vertical plane cuts Anti-Cyclone Cyclone Cool Air Sinks Warm Air Rises
Anti-Cyclonic Temperature
Revealing the thermal thresholds at different heights within the typical high pressure system that
General air particle movement is from West to East , though in a cyclone or anticyclone the particles have rotational velocity. In an anti-cyclone, cool air sinks. and there is convergence at the top of the column.
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Nodal Velocity Vectors Temperature Mesh Thresholds Temperature
Temperature Divergence
within the air column that forms around an anti-cyclone: forms in the ridges of the jet stream.
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25 oc 15 c 10 oc 5 oc 20 oc 30oc
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The Cyclone, Anti-Cyclone
17 Anti-Cyclone and Jet Stream Between 5 oc 30oc Temperature
03. Jet Stream Transcripts
A visual archive of recorded climate data
The Drawing
Catalogue of Components
04.
Transfer mechanism of horizontal pendulum movement to
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01. Anemometer Measures
Reading of pressure
wind speed 06. Wind
vane
Measures dominant direction 02.
or wind direction, triggering the pendulum motion 07.
Pendulum resting on loose indentations for movement in one direction
03.
Spirograph drawing table Attached to rotary pendulum
08. Rotary pendulum driven by a clock mechanism
the elevation of the pencil
09.
Rotary pendulum gumball joint allowing movement in two directions
05. Brass pencil case and arms attached to pendulums
10.
Roll of transcript paper fed continuously through slim frames
Exploded Axonometric View
2 10 9 9 4 4 1 3 8 6 7 5 18 Drawing Machine
Motion,
Wind measures: Anemometer for wind speed A wind vane that rotates a gear
Rotates twice per Linear pendulums: Respond to pressure and wind direction Their combined movement drives the pencil to draw artistic patterns in the flat plane
Rotary
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transfer mechanisms Apparatus Functionality
Functionality
mechanisms and drawing
pendulum: per day - as a clock does
Etched table: Guiding interpretation based on orientation Historic pressure anomalies
Transfer mechanism: Horizontal movement to vertical Draws measurable patterns in z axis
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The Device
20 Device in Action
Transcribing the Skies
The apparatus was designed to be the way that it kinetically responds conditions explored:
Wind Speed - x axis linear motion Atmospheric Pressure - y axis linear Time - Rotary motion
Using three arms, along with gears, drawing apparatus, a spirograph pattern produced - a climate plot - true to actual data sourced from grasshopper’s “ladybug
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SMadjCjujvnRTTJD6tQqmF ncWdWURnR-?usp=sharing
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Spirograph Climate Plots Measurable Data Transcripts
Time (days) Wind Speed Atmospheric Pressure
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SMadjCjujvnRTTJD6tQqmFncWdWUR nR-?usp=sharing
of the Outer Hebrides
parametric, in responds to the three linear motion
gears, levers and pattern is actual weather “ladybug tools”.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SMadjCjujvnRTTJD6tQqmFncWdWUR
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SMadjCjujvnRTTJD6tQqmFncWdWURnR-?usp=sharing
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