Meteorology Chapter 4 Lecture

[@alexshawn7464]

These have all been so so helpful! Thank you!

[@catherinemarsh5453]

So if condensation nuclei are particles like dust, salt etc, then there must be a lot of rain after a nuclear explosion.

[@Diegoyoutube24]

Thank you! Very well done and helpful

[@france215]

Nice

[@Fahrenheit4051]

To what degree does the lower air pressure negate the momentum from high-speed tropical cyclone winds?

[@DaveCocchiarellaWinterPark]

Okay, I am not sure I exactly understand the question. But we do understand tropical cyclones are feed by convective instability. The lower pressure at the center of the storm causes the very warm/humid air to rise and when the vapor condenses heat is release. That heat causes air to continue to rise, forcing additional condensation. As the air is forced to rise, surface pressure at the center of the storms falls further. So low pressure feeds the storm additional warm/humid air and also increases winds speed as air moves from higher pressure around the storm to the lower pressure at the center of the storm. Storms that are moving quickly can be impacted by shear imparted on the system by its rapid movement. TCs are vertically stacked and fast movement may disrupt that structure. That disruption can limit the convection discussed above and hinder storm development by not allowing the surface pressure to fall. Unfortunately, high speed does not always result in high shear.

[@Fahrenheit4051]

@@DaveCocchiarellaWinterPark Thank you for the response! Now I understand a bit more about tropical cyclone formation. I didn't realize it was self-reinforcing. In my original question, I assumed lower pressure air as being less dense than higher pressure air, and imagined that it might be like getting hit with a 1 lb ball moving at 10 mph instead of a 1.5 lb ball moving at 10 mph. Same speed but the 1 lb ball has less momentum.

[@michaelfugere2773]

At a constant temperature wouldn’t moist air still be heavier than dry air? Since moist air is only less dense because warmer temperatures allow the air to hold the moisture, and warmer air is less dense.

[@DaveCocchiarellaWinterPark]

humid air is less dense than dry air because the atomic weight of the hydrogen and oxygen making up a water vapor molecule is less than the atomic weight of diatomic oxygen or nitrogen. here is one explanation: whyfiles.org/2010/the-weather-guys-heavy-air/index.html

[@michaelfugere2773]

@@DaveCocchiarellaWinterPark oh okay that makes sense thanks for the reply!

[@kileyyoakum8021]

Are these slides available anywhere?

[@DaveCocchiarellaWinterPark]

High Kiley only through the publisher of the text as far as I know.

[@roymathew4151]

Helpful, but can you please be a little more simple?