CLOUD PATTERNS: PART 2: A MECHANISM THAT ORGANIZES CLOUD PATTERNS

Abstract

The shape of the frontal or inversion surface over a lower moist layer with geostrophic wind balance is shown to be curved, and a steady-state distribution with a discontinuity in the shape of the surface is shown to be possible. As the resulting configuration of stationary ridges on the inversion conforms with many features of cloud streets, it is suggested that the mechanism may play an important role in the organization of cloud patterns. Presentation of the complete theory must await a more elaborate theoretical-descriptive paper.