Metr 302.01

Class Notes

K. Wrightsmith

E. Sanchez

April 27, 2004

Real Time Weather Concepts: (website) Great tool for teachers. This tool shows map of the U.S. with various cities to click on, and get a surface weather map for that location.

-To look into a future date, click on “numerical models”. Pilots frequently use this feature.

To find out if there is a dry line: Ex: “@ Texas”

· look at CAPE, air coming from Gulf of Mexico (South winds)

· Dew point temp. crowded

· Boundary between warm dry air and warm moist air

Ridges have Northward prongs, Troughs have southward. Both move along jet stream.

Dryline: Boundary between warm dry air and warm moist air.

CAPE/CIN: Meteorologists use both, for forecasting tools.

Stages in develop of common t-storm – single cell t-storm

*cumulus stage (1)

*cumulus congestus stage (2)

*cumulonimbus stage (3)

(If cloud has term nimbus in it = rain cloud)

Hail:

*process by which hail falls- determined by updraft @ freezing level

*Rain was hail at one point it just melted

Lightening:

· Why lightning?- portions of clouds become “electrified” or have charge differences

Three types

-Cloud to ground (most dangerous) Lightening attempts to take the quickest path to the ground.

-Has a blue/white color.

Cloud in cloud

Cloud to cloud

To determine how far away the lightening strikes, once you hear thunder count; and if you count 5 seconds, you are a mile away.