Jet Streams |
Choose from the list below typical properties of a jetstream.
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Yes, a jetstream is defined as a narrow ribbon of strong wind.
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No. Theta-W gradients are used to identify fronts but are best defined nearer to the surface.
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Yes, strong winds in the core and lighter winds either side of the jetstream result in strong horizontal wind shear.
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No. Fog is a low level feature!
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Yes, strong winds in the core and lighter winds above and below result in strong vertical wind shear.
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Yes, jets arise from a temperature gradient in the atmosphere which leads to marked differences in the properties of the atmosphere on either side of the jetstream.
Select which of the following atmospheric properties, associated with jetsreams, can be detected directly from visible imagery.
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Not really, but it is possible to see cloud motion near jetstreams on animated imagery.
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No. Visible imagery responds only to to light in the visible spectrum and so has no correlation with temperature.
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No, because we cannot deduce wind speed we are unable to determine wind shear.
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Yes, brightness, texture, shadows and shape can all help to identify cloud type.
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No, because we cannot deduce wind speed we are unable to determine wind shear.
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Not really, moisture can be present even in cloud free areas.
Select which of the following atmospheric properties, associated with jetsreams, can be detected directly from infrared imagery.
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Not really, but it is possible to see cloud motion near jetstreams on animated imagery.
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Yes, infrared imagery detects differences in cloud top temperatures, therefore we can see different cloud top heights easily.
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No, because we cannot deduce wind speed we are unable to determine wind shear.
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Yes, brightness and shape can help to identify cloud type.
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No, because we cannot deduce wind speed we are unable to determine wind shear.
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Not really, moisture can be present even in cloud free areas.
Select which of the following atmospheric properties, associated with jetsreams, can be detected directly from water vapour imagery.
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Not really, but it is possible to see cloud motion near jetstreams on animated imagery.
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Yes, however only clouds in the upper layers of the atmosphere can be determined clearly. Changes in cloud top temperatures at lower levels cannot be reliably detected.
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No, because we cannot deduce wind speed we are unable to determine wind shear.
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Yes, however because only high level clouds can be reliably detected, this capability is limited to upper levels in water vapour imagery.
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No, because we cannot deduce wind speed we are unable to determine wind shear.
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Yes! This is the strength of water vapour imagery - we can detect moisture in the mid and upper levels of the atmosphere even in cloud-free areas.