|
|
| Infrared satellite imagery captures the diurnal cycle of atmospheric stability -
Animations of infrared satellite images can provide insights into the diurnal (daily) changes of atmospheric
stability in two ways. First, they depict the the development of cumulus cloud development during the afternoon,
This illustrates the consequences of the destabilization of the lower atmosphere during the day. Second,
infrared images track the temperatures of whatever surface they view (the ground in areas that are not cloud-covered).
This directly shows the changes in heating that are responsible for the destabilization.
In this animation, the darkening of the surface indicates the warming. It is especially apparent over the southwestern
United States and northern Mexico. The warming is followed almost immediately by widespread outbreaks of cumulus clouds
over large parts of the West. As the ground cools during the evening and early nighttime hours, the cumulus activity
dies off, although the residual high clouds from a few tall thunderstorms persist. This daily cycle is repeated over
the major landmasses during the warm season, when most clouds are convective (vertically developing) rather than stratiform (layered clouds).
|
|
