The westerlies meets the Alps!

Temperatures vary from place to place, depending on many geographical factors that contribute in these changes. Due to the high elevation of the Bernese Alps and its physical position between the mid-latitude belts, temperatures are predominantly cold during winters and cool during the summers. The temperatures range from an average of 5 degrees Fahrenheit, to as high as 16 degrees. Air masses play a major factor in the temperatures seen around this region. The Maritime Arctic (mA) is the main air mass that passes through Western Europe, reaching its way towards the Swiss Alps. These cold air masses originate from the Arctic region as well as the northern Norwegian island of Spitsbergen.

Winds can also contribute to temperature changes due to their nature of transporting air molecules and masses. During the winter season at the Bernese Alps, winds can reach speeds of around 40 mph. These winds are usually blown from the west through the prevailing westerlies. These winds blow from a high pressure and they tend to be stronger during winters, which explain the high wind speeds found in the Bernese Alps.

The formation of clouds is partly dependent on winds moving from different high and low pressures. Cloud As it reaches a high elevation, it reaches the dew point where the water condenses. This will then result to warmer are descending from the mountaintop.

s are usually the main source of precipitation. Precipitation has four main common types, snow and rain are the two main types seen through the Bernese Alp range. The yearly average precipitation found in the alp region is around 2000mm, which is a mixture of rain and snow. Orographic cloud formations are commonly found in mountain rages such as the Bernese Alps, and it is the process of air which cooling as it moves upwards.

References

http://meteorologytraining.tpub.com/14312/css/14312_104.htm

http://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Switzerland/temperature-july.php

http://www.meteosuisse.admin.ch/web/en/climate/swiss_climate/swiss_climate_overview.html

http://clasfaculty.ucdenver.edu/callen/1202/Climate/GenCirculation/GenCirculation.html

http://cache4.asset-cache.net/gc/AB13082-switzerland-swiss-alps-mountains-reflected-in-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=ysgg8IpaYWbQzhHJ13e5ylsofF0EK85f%2FnMIWN03eZk%3D

http://clasfaculty.ucdenver.edu/callen/1202/Climate/Moisture/preciptypes.jpg