2. Adiabatic temperature changes and
expansion and cooling
• This happens when air is compressed or
allowed to expand
• As you travel up ward the atmospheric
pressure decreases
• If a parcel of air rises high enough it will cool
to its dew point
http://www.bio-
world.com/productinfo/4_71_557_730/4501/
Advanced-Thermometer-with-RS-Output.html
3. Orographic lifting
• Rainiest places are mostly on wind ward sides of
mountains
• Rain shadow deserts can occur on lee ward sides
of mountains
• If air descends it cools adiabatically
http://www.examiner.com/outdoorsman-in-salt-
lake-city/understanding-why-utah-has-the-
greatest-snow-on-earth-part-1-orographic-lifting
4. Frontal wedge
• A mass of cool and warm air collide making a
front
• Whether fronts are associated with specific
storm systems
http://www.geo.hunter.cuny.edu/~tbw/wc.note
s/4.moisture.atm.stability/frontal_wedging.ht
m
