Thermal Convection in the North Pacific High Pressure Cell

Kern E Kenyon

doi:10.4236/ns.2020.127040

Abstract

If it is accepted that thermal convection consistently takes place inside the North Pacific High, as proposed here, then the existence of the NPH, as well as its seasonal variation, will be explained simultaneously, building on an earlier attempt. More observations than available at present would help prove that thermal convection happens and pin down its characteristics, since it is not visible. Also the physics of how thermal convection produces relatively high pressure at sea level needs work.

Highlights

The idea that thermal convection of some type is taking place most of the time inside the North Pacific High Pressure Cell is almost a dead certainty
What is left for the future, in the way of gathering available or making new relevant observations, is based on the fact that the thermal convection mechanism itself cannot be seen with the naked eye
In the 30 year period of monthly mean sea level pressure maps of the North Pacific, several times a double high pressure cell was present in the summer months, one cell in the east as normal and a second one to the west at the same latitude [6]

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The idea that thermal convection of some type is taking place most of the time inside the North Pacific High Pressure Cell is almost a dead certainty. At the time that this notion was announced in 1999 [1], the understanding of it was not complete. The seasonal variation of the NPH is considerably less confusing than it used to be. From the increased understanding comes the estimation that the time-scale for generating the NPH is a month or less. What is left for the future, in the way of gathering available or making new relevant observations, is based on the fact that the thermal convection mechanism itself cannot be seen with the naked eye

CHRONOLOGY

CONVECTION EVIDENCE

DYNAMICAL POINTS

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSIONS