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CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION IN THE TEXAS HIGH PLAINS 1
Author(s) -
Haragan Donald R.,
Jehn Kenneth H.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
jawra journal of the american water resources association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.957
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1752-1688
pISSN - 1093-474X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-1688.1970.tb01649.x
Subject(s) - precipitable water , precipitation , environmental science , atmospheric instability , atmospheric sciences , water vapor , subsidence , climatology , moisture , spring (device) , atmospheric circulation , convection , precipitation types , meteorology , geology , geography , wind speed , mechanical engineering , paleontology , structural basin , engineering
A study of the relationship among cloudiness, precipitable water vapor, stability and precipitation is presented for the Texas High Plains. A study of clouds during periods of above‐normal rainfall indicates that precipitation during late fall and winter is associated with stratiform clouds which develop in conjunction with cyclonic activity. Spring and summer precipitation is most highly correlated with cumuliform clouds characteristic of convective activity. Investigation of other macroscale atmospheric features indicates that wet periods are further characterized by atmospheric instability and above‐normal amounts of precipitable water vapor and water‐vapor flux. Dry periods are associated with atmospheric circulation patterns which either serve to cut off the supply of low‐level moisture, produce subsidence and consequent atmospheric stability, or both.