Re: Someone explain this baffling sat image please !
Posted by Chris in Tampa on 1/3/2012, 8:09 pm
Not sure if this relates to this specific case:

"Q: I often fly over the Great Lakes and have noticed small cumulus clouds over land, but not a single cloud over the lakes themselves. Why is this?

A: For clouds to form, air needs to rise, either on its own by becoming less dense than surrounding air or by being lifted by denser air impinging upon it. On a sunny day, land heats up quickly compared to the lakes. As air near the surface is heated, water vapor rises, cools and condenses into clouds. Over water, this same rapid heating of air does not occur. In fact, the cooler air over water typically moves inland in the form of a sea breeze to replace the air that has been rising over land. This influx of denser air, called a sea breeze front, enhances the lifting that occurs over land and can lead to the formation of more clouds.

(Answered by meteorologist Bob Swanson, USA TODAY's assistant weather editor, August 5, 2007)"

From:
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/resources/askjack/archives-clouds-precip.htm
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Someone explain this baffling sat image please ! - Anung Mwka, 1/3/2012, 7:40 pm
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