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December 18, 2020 - Cloud Streets over Gulf of Maine
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Frigid air and strong winds combined to create a spectacular scene over the Atlantic Ocean in mid-December 2020. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image of cloud streets stretching across the ocean on December 16.
As a strong winter storm moved up the east coast of the United States, temperatures dropped into the teens and low twenty degrees Fahrenheit across New England. Winds blowing towards the southeast carried the cold air mass over the relatively warm Atlantic Ocean, where the air quickly warmed and gained moisture necessary to form clouds. The clouds line up in organized rows parallel to the direction of the wind. Called “cloud streets”, this type of cloud formation is an example of nature trying to balance differences in energy.
Cloud streets occur when columns of heated air—thermals—rise through the atmosphere and carry heat away from the sea surface. The moist air rises until it hits a warmer air layer (a temperature inversion) that acts like a lid. The inversion causes the rising thermals to roll over on themselves, forming parallel cylinders of rotating air. On the upward side of the cylinders (rising air), water vapor condenses and forms clouds. Along the downward side (descending air), skies remain clear.
Note also how the cloud streets start a bit offshore. This is because the cold air mass needs some time and distance moving over the water to pick up enough moisture for cloud formation.
Cloud streets are not limited to the skies over the open ocean. For example, during cold spells you can frequently see them streaming over the Great Lakes.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 12/16/2020
Resolutions:
1km (252.8 KB), 500m (900.9 KB), 250m (3.3 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Frigid air and strong winds combined to create a spectacular scene over the Atlantic Ocean in mid-December 2020. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image of cloud streets stretching across the ocean on December 16.
As a strong winter storm moved up the east coast of the United States, temperatures dropped into the teens and low twenty degrees Fahrenheit across New England. Winds blowing towards the southeast carried the cold air mass over the relatively warm Atlantic Ocean, where the air quickly warmed and gained moisture necessary to form clouds. The clouds line up in organized rows parallel to the direction of the wind. Called “cloud streets”, this type of cloud formation is an example of nature trying to balance differences in energy.
Cloud streets occur when columns of heated air—thermals—rise through the atmosphere and carry heat away from the sea surface. The moist air rises until it hits a warmer air layer (a temperature inversion) that acts like a lid. The inversion causes the rising thermals to roll over on themselves, forming parallel cylinders of rotating air. On the upward side of the cylinders (rising air), water vapor condenses and forms clouds. Along the downward side (descending air), skies remain clear.
Note also how the cloud streets start a bit offshore. This is because the cold air mass needs some time and distance moving over the water to pick up enough moisture for cloud formation.
Cloud streets are not limited to the skies over the open ocean. For example, during cold spells you can frequently see them streaming over the Great Lakes.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 12/16/2020
Resolutions:
1km (252.8 KB), 500m (900.9 KB), 250m (3.3 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
