File:Cloud Streets over the Atlantic Ocean (11856189556).jpg

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Satellite picture of cloud streets by Terra (satellite) MODIS

Summary

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Description

In the midst of a cold snap that sent temperatures 20–40°F (11–22°C) below normal across much of the United States, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Terra satellite captured this image of Cloud streets over the Atlantic Ocean on January 7, 2014. Cloud streets—long parallel bands of cumulus clouds—form when cold air blows over warmer waters and a warmer air layer (or temperature inversion) rests over the top of both.

The comparatively warm water gives up heat and moisture to the cold air above, and columns of heated air called thermals naturally rise through the atmosphere. The temperature inversion acts like a lid, so when the rising thermals hit it, they roll over and loop back on themselves, creating parallel cylinders of rotating air. As this happens, the moisture cools and condenses into flat-bottomed, fluffy-topped cumulus clouds that line up parallel to the direction of the prevailing wind. On January 7, the winds were predominantly out of the northwest.

Cloud streets can stretch for hundreds of kilometers if the land or water surface underneath is uniform. Sea surface temperature need to be at least 40°F (22°C) warmer than the air for cloud streets to form.

More info: earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=82800

NASA Earth Observatory image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz LANCE/EOSDIS MODIS Rapid Response Team, GSFC. Caption by Adam Voiland.

Instrument: Terra - MODIS

Credit: NASA Earth Observatory

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Date
Source Cloud Streets over the Atlantic Ocean
Author NASA Goddard Space Flight Center from Greenbelt, MD, USA

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This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
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This image was originally posted to Flickr by NASA Goddard Photo and Video at https://flickr.com/photos/24662369@N07/11856189556. It was reviewed on 17 September 2016 by FlickreviewR and was confirmed to be licensed under the terms of the cc-by-2.0.

17 September 2016

Public domain This file is in the public domain in the United States because it was solely created by NASA. NASA copyright policy states that "NASA material is not protected by copyright unless noted". (See Template:PD-USGov, NASA copyright policy page or JPL Image Use Policy.)
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current20:48, 17 September 2016Thumbnail for version as of 20:48, 17 September 20167,200 × 9,400 (18.78 MB)Vanished Account Byeznhpyxeuztibuo (talk | contribs)Transferred from Flickr via Flickr2Commons

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