Polar low

A polar low is a mesoscale, short-lived atmospheric low pressure system (depression) that is found over the ocean areas poleward of the main polar front in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, as well as the Sea of Japan.^[1] The systems usually have a horizontal length scale of less than 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) and exist for no more than a couple of days. They are part of the larger class of mesoscale weather systems. Polar lows can be difficult to detect using conventional weather reports and are a hazard to high-latitude operations, such as shipping and gas and oil platforms. Polar lows have been referred to by many other terms, such as polar mesoscale vortex, Arctic hurricane, Arctic low, and cold air depression. Today the term is usually reserved for the more vigorous systems that have near-surface winds of at least 17 m/s (38 mph).^[2]

^ Moreno-Ibáñez, Marta; Laprise, René; Gachon, Philippe (2021-01-01). "Recent advances in polar low research: current knowledge, challenges and future perspectives". Tellus A: Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography. 73 (1): 1–31. Bibcode:2021TellA..7390412M. doi:10.1080/16000870.2021.1890412. ISSN 1600-0870. S2CID 233807634.
^ Rasmussen, E. A. & Turner, J. (2003), Polar Lows: Mesoscale Weather Systems in the Polar Regions, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 612, ISBN 0-521-62430-4.

[1] Moreno-Ibáñez, Marta; Laprise, René; Gachon, Philippe (2021-01-01). "Recent advances in polar low research: current knowledge, challenges and future perspectives". Tellus A: Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography. 73 (1): 1–31. Bibcode:2021TellA..7390412M. doi:10.1080/16000870.2021.1890412. ISSN 1600-0870. S2CID 233807634.

[2] Rasmussen, E. A. & Turner, J. (2003), Polar Lows: Mesoscale Weather Systems in the Polar Regions, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 612, ISBN 0-521-62430-4.

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