ATS1310 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Atmospheric Instability, Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Silt
9 Aug 2018
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Document Summary
All severe storms are associated with strong vertical motion in the atmosphere producing heavy precipitation & strong winds. Air forced to rise (from instability ) will cool as it expands (because air that is rising is expanding doing. If cooling continues cloud condensation (as air reaches its dew point - can no longer hold certain amount of water in atmosphere without forming cloud) & precipitation processes begin. Most severe weather is associated with atmospheric instability. Instability: warm air at low levels and colder above (warm wants to rise through cold and cold wants to sink through warm) Stable very little vertical motion, little/no precipitation. A pressure gradient force (pgf) sets air in motion & is directed down the pressure gradient from higher towards lower pressure. Stronger the pgf the closer the isobars are together stronger the winds. Pgf (hence wind speed) proportional to spacing b/w isobars (lines of equal. Low pressure rising air & instability pressure) on a weather map.
