Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

chemist612 t1_j25anpg wrote

Evaporation happens where it's hot (summer) and the vapor moves to where it is cold (winter). It may be cold way up high, but before enough moisture builds there, the winds will generally move it somewhere colder close to the surface.

3

TheRunningMD OP t1_j25azj4 wrote

But wouldn’t that mean that the water droplets would have to travel thousands of miles “close to the surface” because usually those places are far away, and not just go up like 2K up?

Up cold is a lot closer than low cold.

1

chemist612 t1_j25b7kk wrote

Yes, but the jet stream is powerful and mixes the air pretty fast. Summer storms have a lot of energy, which is why they tend to be so destructive

3

TheRunningMD OP t1_j25bdk5 wrote

Sweet. Is there a physical reason why wind moves to colder places?

2

chemist612 t1_j25bqdi wrote

Wind is just hot air and cold air moving past each other. Areas of high pressure are where it is hotest and areas of low pressure are colder, so evaporation happens somewhere warm and high pressure then moves via wind (advection) to somewhere colder with low pressure.

2

TheRunningMD OP t1_j25bygl wrote

My chemist friend, you have enriched my life. Thank you and have an amazing day!

2

chemist612 t1_j25cl7d wrote

Happy to help. Go forth and question everything!

2