Portion of the atmospheric circulation occurring in the meridional direction.
A wind flow through highly amplified troughs and ridges.
Large-scale atmospheric flow in which the north-south component (i.e., longitudinal, or along a meridian) is pronounced. The accompanying zonal (east-west) component often is weaker than normal. Compare with zonal flow.
Airflow in the direction of the geographic meridians, i.e. southnorth or north-south flow.
A type of atmospheric circulation pattern in which the north and south component of motion is unusually pronounced. Opposite of zonal flow.
Atmospheric circulation in which the north and south, or meridional, component of motion is unusually pronounced. This weakens the zonal flow.
Meridional flow is a meteorological term meaning that the general flow pattern is north to south along the earth's longitude lines (the opposite of zonal flow). Extratropical cyclones in this environment tend to be stronger and move slower. This pattern is responsible for most instances of extreme weather, as not only are storms stronger in this type of flow regime, but temperatures can reach extremes as well, producing heat waves and cold waves depending on the equator-ward or poleward direction of the flow.