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Understanding Cloud Formation and Atmospheric Dynamics

Learn about the importance of clouds, cloud physics, air pressure, winds, Coriolis force, and geostrophic wind in meteorology. Explore factors influencing cloud stability and atmospheric movements. Enhance your knowledge of weather patterns and elements.

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Understanding Cloud Formation and Atmospheric Dynamics

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  1. Review Chapters 5-7 Prof. John Toohey-Morales, CCM St. Thomas University Miami Gardens, Florida

  2. Clouds

  3. Stability • It’s important because it determines the rate of vertical motion of air, which controls cloud formation • Cold air aloft and warm air at the surface leads to an unstable environment, versus a stable air mass which has warm air aloft and cold air at the surface (see sounding) • Latent heat release keeps moist air from cooling as quickly as dry air when air parcels rise

  4. Cloud Formation (fig. 5.8)

  5. Cloud Physics • Commonly ice-crystals and supercooled water droplets coexist, but the ice-crystals will grow at the expense of the water droplets • Thick clouds with strong updrafts can sustain the weight of more larger drops, leading to bigger raindrops • Hail can only come from Cumulonimbus clouds

  6. Air Pressure and Winds • Warm air aloft is normally associated to HIGH pressure, while cold air aloft is normally associated to LOW pressure • Pressure decreases faster with height in a column of cold air versus a column of warm air • A barometer measures pressure, which is usually around 1000 millibars or 30 inches of mercury at the surface

  7. Air Pressure and Winds • Pressure Gradient Force (PGF) is determined by the amount of pressure change over a given distance • The PGF is directed from higher to lower pressure at right angles to the isobars • PGF starts the air moving horizontally

  8. Coriolis Force • An apparent force due to the rotation of Earth • All free moving objects seem to deflect from a straight line because Earth rotates under them

  9. Coriolis Force (continued) • The stronger the wind, the greater the deflection produced • Coriolis acts only at right angles to the wind, deflecting to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere • It affects wind direction but not its speed • Coriolis is ZERO at the Equator

  10. Geostrophic Wind • When Coriolis balances the PGF, the wind blows in a straight path parallel to the isobars • Low pressure is always to the left and high pressure to the right

  11. Gradient vs. Surface Winds • Gradient wind blows parallel to curved contours above the level of frictional influence aloft • Due to friction surface winds do NOT blow parallel to the isobars, but across at a 30° angle into low pressure and out of high pressure

  12. Sea Breeze • Occurs during the day when the land heats up more than the water, causing the wind to blow onshore and clouds to form over land

  13. Monsoon • Occurs in summer when wind blows from sea to land producing copious amounts of rain

  14. Prevailing Winds

  15. Semi Permanent Highs Near US

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