METR 010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Clear-Air Turbulence, Wind Speed, Pressure Gradient

• School: SJSU
• Department: Meteorology and Climate Science
• Course: METR 010
• Professor: Henry Bartholomew

Document Summary

Can be formed from vertical changes in: wind speed, wind direction. Turbulent eddies forming downwind of a mountain chain in a wind shear zone produce. The formation of clear air turbulence (cat) along a boundary of increasing wind speed shear. On a hot and dry day, air near ground becomes unstable. As heated air rises, wind blowing past obstruction twists the rising air, forming a rotating column, or dust devil. Air rushes into rising column from sides, lifting sand, dust, leaves from surface. Small scale winds that occur in localized areas. Thermal circulation produced by heating and cooling of air near the ground. An onshore wind that develops during the day. Pressure gradient forms due to temperature contrasts between the heated land and cooler air over the ocean. Pressure gradient is reversed at night and wind blows from land to ocean (offshore) Converging sea breezes in the afternoon produce uplift that enhances thunderstorm development and rainfall.