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Mathew_Barlow OP t1_j6wyubs wrote

data source: GFS, from NOMADS server; visualization: ParaView

data link: https://nomads.ncep.noaa.gov/dods/gfs_0p25

At approximately 1.5 km up in the atmosphere, the coldest temperatures in the world are over Hudson Bay and headed for the US. Looking at the lower atmosphere rather than the surface temperature (mostly) removes the influence of elevation. The temperatures are shown in degrees Celsius on the 850 hPa pressure level, which is approximately 1.5 km above the surface.

Mathew Barlow
Professor of Climate Science
University of Massachusetts Lowell

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EduardH t1_j6xvqyg wrote

>Looking at the lower atmosphere rather than the surface temperature (mostly) removes the influence of elevation.

I live in Colorado, at approximately 1600 m elevation (so slightly higher than shown here). I'm sure that wave of -40C won't lead to those same temperatures here, but how does elevation play a role? Do these temperatures then appear at 1500+1600=3100 m elevation?

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mata_dan t1_j6zv4o8 wrote

I think those parts of the atmosphere, or rather the flow/currents, tend to be higher up when the ground is also higher up.

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Dishwallah t1_j6y4rt9 wrote

You know how when you check the temp it says "feels like" a lower temp? Being at ground level changes that so the elevation makes it more unbiased because humidity and wind

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