Event (9) Geostationary clouds (forming on leading edge, decaying on trailing edge)

Air Observer or Field Observer

Photo: McRae. 149.07° -35.32° looking NNE. 17:00 AEDST 29th October 2003.

In this photo the wind is blowing left to right. The cloud band that can be seen has formed on a wind wave crest.
Air moving into the crest from the left is cooling and forms cloud, while air decending out of the crest to the right is warming and losing cloud. Thus while the cloud elements may be moving rapidly, the cloud itself is stationary. This is diagnostic.

Implications

Phenomenon	Urgency	Indicated Red Flag Warning
Mountain Wind Waves	3	2) Conditions conducive to plume-driven fire

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This material arises from work carried out by the HighFire Risk Project.

Material prepared by R. McRae September 2009.