Blog Reflection #1

Source: http://visitduluth.com/group-tours/maps.php

I have chosen to compare my analysis of Minneapolis, MN to Scott Kerr’s analysis of Duluth, MN.  While comparing Scott Kerrs’s blog to my own I found many similarities and differences in the climate, air mass variation, and local weather event information presented as well as the way in which this information was presented.  I like how Scott relates his climate analysis directly to the precipitation data presented as well as built upon his analysis gradually to exemplify the reasoning behind his Bowen Ratio guestimate.

Since our sites are very close to each other I was not surprised to find many similarities in our conclusions about temperature and precipitation variations.  Although our analysis of climate was quite different we both had a strong focus on the surrounding bodies of water and vast amount of lakes in Minnesota which is likely why we had such similar conclusions about temperature variance, precipitation variance, continentality, and the Bowen Ratio.

Source:  http://www.climatetemp.info/usa/duluth-minnesota.html

  Source:  http://www.climatetemp.info/usa/minneapolis-minnesota.html

 

Although the Average Monthly Precipitation is very similar for Minneapolis and Duluth I noticed some slight variation in the summer months in particular.  Throughout June, July, and August Minneapolis hits its peak for the average amount of precipitation which is around four inches. The effect of Duluth’s proximity to Lake Superior on the maritime influence on the climate is apparent by the vast difference in average precipitation for the month of September compared to Minneapolis.  Minneapolis receives two and a half inches of precipitation in September on average while Duluth receives just over four inches. 

Source:  http://www.rssweather.com/climate/Minnesota/Duluth/#precip

Source:  http://www.rssweather.com/climate/Minnesota/Minneapolis-St.Paul/

Scott’s analysis of air masses was much more detailed than mine in terms of the seasonality of air masses which affect Duluth.  An example of this is the detail on how cT air masses can push upward during the summer causing heat waves as well as how late season mT can bring about early snow. 

Scott and I both come to similar conclusions about cold occlusions in the region, but Scott takes his analysis even further and applies analysis on the current conditions.  Scott includes a graphic showing air masses during a major storm from 2010 which really supplements his analysis of the current conditions which were stable at the time.Source: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/updraft/archive/2010/12/

snow_abates_late_but_storm_two.shtml

Scott decided to focus on three local phenomena which are similar to lake effect snow, but are definitely more unique to Duluth than Minneapolis. It is quite apparent that Duluth’s proximity to Lake Superior has a profound effect on local weather patterns and is the one of the main reasons why Duluth is effected by different weather phenomena than Minneapolis especially more intense effects on precipitation.  Cold air that has drifted over Lake Superior has been known to cause ice storms as well as keep temperatures moderate in the summer.  Duluth and Minneapolis exemplify how a large amount of lakes or a large sized lake in close proximity to a location can have dramatic effects on local weather patterns as well as cause localized weather phenomena.

Source: http://www.prism.oregonstate.edu/state_products/index.phtml?id=MN

As seen by the graphic showing average annual precipitation Duluth and Minneapolis both fall within areas that receive quite a high amount of precipitation on a statewide level.