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Random Chaos
Weather Analyst


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Posts: 1024
Loc: Maryland
Re: definitions
      Thu Sep 25 2008 08:26 AM

The simplistic answer is:

Extratropical systems are asymmetric with winds well away from the center and the center generally exposed. They tend to look like a single spiral that rarely wraps more than about 1/2 to 3/4 around. A nor'easter is a good example of an extratropical system. These generally form over colder waters.

Tropical systems are symmetric with a tight inner wind maxima and clouds all the way up to the center (excluding an eye). Due to the dense CDO, weak systems tend to look more like a single spiral, but more powerful systems develop a clear double spiral. These generally form over hot waters.

Subtropical systems are sort of half way between these too. They generally have the symmetric structure of a tropical system, but the winds are well away from the center and the center is sometimes exposed. These generally form over medium temperature waters.

Wikipedia info:
Extratropical: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extratropical_cyclone
Subtropical: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subtropical_cyclone
Tropical: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_cyclone

I'm sure a met can give a much more detailed description, especially of exactly how to tell subtropical from the other two.

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Entire topic
Subject Posted by Posted on
* Tropical Storm Kyle Forms North of the Caribbean. MikeCAdministrator Thu Sep 25 2008 08:26 AM
. * * Re: Tropical Storm Kyle Forms North of the Caribbean. scottsvb   Mon Sep 29 2008 12:03 AM
. * * Re: Tropical Storm Kyle Forms North of the Caribbean. blizzardnut   Sat Sep 27 2008 04:55 PM
. * * Re: Trying to Organize ... 94L Almost Tropical MissBecky   Sat Sep 27 2008 03:46 PM
. * * Re: Trying to Organize ... 94L Almost Tropical Hugh   Sat Sep 27 2008 01:50 PM
. * * Kyle Thunderbird12   Sat Sep 27 2008 11:23 AM
. * * Re: Trying to Organize ... 94L Almost Tropical scottsvb   Fri Sep 26 2008 12:36 PM
. * * Re: Trying to Organize ... 94L Almost Tropical Raymond   Fri Sep 26 2008 01:00 AM
. * * Re: Trying to Organize ... 94L Almost Tropical metwannabe   Thu Sep 25 2008 08:11 PM
. * * Trying to Organize ... 94L Almost Tropical CoconutCandy   Thu Sep 25 2008 07:08 PM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas metwannabe   Thu Sep 25 2008 05:30 PM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas Thunderbird12   Thu Sep 25 2008 04:36 PM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas Lee-Delray   Thu Sep 25 2008 04:34 PM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas sailor   Thu Sep 25 2008 04:31 PM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas danielwAdministrator   Thu Sep 25 2008 04:06 PM
. * * What's in a Name? A Warm Core !! CoconutCandy   Thu Sep 25 2008 03:37 PM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas Rich B   Thu Sep 25 2008 03:31 PM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas Thunderbird12   Thu Sep 25 2008 03:18 PM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas Raymond   Thu Sep 25 2008 02:49 PM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas Ed in Va   Thu Sep 25 2008 02:05 PM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas metwannabe   Thu Sep 25 2008 11:04 AM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas cieldumort   Thu Sep 25 2008 10:49 AM
. * * Re: definitions Raymond   Thu Sep 25 2008 09:17 AM
. * * Re: definitions Random Chaos   Thu Sep 25 2008 08:26 AM
. * * definitions vineyardsaker   Wed Sep 24 2008 10:48 PM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas Hugh   Wed Sep 24 2008 07:50 PM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas LoisCane   Wed Sep 24 2008 07:38 PM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas cieldumort   Wed Sep 24 2008 03:08 PM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas Bloodstar   Wed Sep 24 2008 03:03 PM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas metwannabe   Wed Sep 24 2008 02:31 PM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas LoisCane   Wed Sep 24 2008 02:19 PM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas Marknole   Wed Sep 24 2008 02:10 PM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas Raymond   Wed Sep 24 2008 12:06 PM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas metwannabe   Wed Sep 24 2008 10:23 AM
. * * Re: Watching Disturbance off the Carolinas metwannabe   Wed Sep 24 2008 09:09 AM

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