Reflection 1: Bellingham and Seattle, WA


         Seattle is a mere 90 miles south of Bellingham. It sits in a very similar location and is affected by the same topography as well as the same fronts and air masses.

http://www.citytowninfo.com/places/washington/map

        To the east of both locations is the large mountain range of the Cascades. Maritime Polar air masses come from the north Pacific and create large amounts of precipitation caused by the orographic uplift of the Cascade Mountains. Both locations are affected by these weather events. Very rarely are either city affected by Polar Continental air masses because the Cascades create a wall to the east.  The amount of annual precipitation is very similar as well as the average temperatures.  Both Seattle and Bellingham are affected by the Pineapple Express which is an event that brings heavy precipitaion to northwestern Washington caused by the mixing of the Polar Jet Stream and the Tropical Jet Stream.

Precipitation Comparison: Seattle (top) vs. Bellingham (bottom)

http://www.pae-engineers.com/sustainable-design/strategies-techniques/SDC-climate-considerations.php

Average Precipitation- Bellingham

http://www.city-data.com/city/Bellingham-Washington.html

  http://charliesweatherforecasts.blogspot.com/2011/09/similar-forecast-and-variations-in.html      

        Above show the yearly precipitation averages for all of Washington. Seattle and Bellingham are very similar. Seattle looks like it gets slightly more precipitation than Bellingham. This is most likely because Seattle is affected by the Puget Sound Convergence Zone that blow off the Olympic Mountains. This causes an increase in precipitation in Seattle. In Bellingham, the same phenomena occur but Bellingham is too north so all that it receives is increased winds from the funnel that is the Straight of Juan de Fuca just north of the Olympic Mountains. 

Air Masses of the Pacific Northwest

Bellingham, WA and the pacific northwest is mainly affected by air masses that have originated in the Pacific Ocean. Maritime Polar air is brought down by the by the Polar Jet Stream and is directed through the area frequently in the winter and summer months. The Cascade Mountains to the east for a barrier that protects the coastal areas from the continental polar air coming from Canada. Very rarely does an air mass from Canada reach Bellingham. In the summer months the area is sometimes influenced by the Hawaii'an High causing clear skies and warm weather. the air masses mix very well together because of the similarities they share.  During La Nina and infrequently in winter the Tropical Jet Stream wanders north and mixes with the Polar Jet Stream causing the "Pineapple Express" to hit northern Washington and causing heavy precipitation. 

                                          

                                  http://www.nc-climate.ncsu.edu/edu/k12/.JetStreams

Mid latitude cyclones of the area are caused mostly by cold polar fronts moving south from the Aleutian Low in the North Pacific. The air masses that move into the area are slowed by the mountainous topography to the east and due to orographic uplift, produce large amounts of precipitation. Winds are increased in the area due to a funneling effect of the Vancouver Island Mountains and the Olympic  Mountains to the east. The air is funneled through the Straight of Juan de Fuca increasing wind speeds.  

http://www.weather.com/maps/maptype/satelliteusnational/euanoroestesatelite_large.html?clip=undefined&region=undefined&collection=localwxforecast&presname=undefined

Pineapple Express: https://www.meted.ucar.edu/training_module.php?currentPage=showAll&id=904

References:

The Weather Channel (2011). http://www.weather.com/maps/maptype/satelliteusnational/euanoroestesatelite_large.html?clip=undefined&region=undefined&collection=localwxforecast&presname=undefined

Bach (2004). Northwest Washington Climate. Western Washington University.