Emergence of the mainstream cyclogenesis theories

Abstract

A historical overview is presented of two themes - two contrasting theories of cyclogenesis - that have been central to the development of Meteorology in the twentieth century. One theme attributes cyclogenesis to an intrinsic instability of the flow at an elongated surface front, and the second links cyclogenesis to the influence of an upper-level trough-like feature upon a surface front. The overview is in two parts. First individual chronological commentaries are provided that seek to trace the emergence of the two theories. Second attention is focused on the nature and significance of two landmarks (- a conference held in Bergen, and the establishment of the quasi-geostrophic framework) that influenced the meteorological community's perception of the two themes.

Keywords

• cyclogenesis
• meteorology
• flow
• zyklogenese
• meteorologie
• strömung