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ALL ABOUT MOISTURE

The GOES satellite water vapor channel detects moisture even in clear air.
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Atmospheric moisture, quantified by metrics like dewpoint and relative humidity, is crucial for aviation as it directly influences visibility, cloud formation, and severe weather potential.
  • The dewpoint depression (temperature-dewpoint spread) serves as a practical indicator for pilots; a small depression suggests high relative humidity and a greater likelihood of fog or low clouds, and can also help estimate cumulus cloud base height.
  • Various types of fog, including radiational, advection, and frontal, form when air cools to its dewpoint, presenting significant hazards to flight operations by severely limiting visibility.
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With summer approaching, we often think about those hot temperatures, high density altitudes, and storms. But another factor enters the picture: moisture. High relative humidity brings foggy mornings, and with soaring dewpoints comes the prospect for storms and rain.

With moisture having such a profound impact on flight operations, it’s time to take a closer look. Maybe we can even help you understand that dewpoint you always dutifully copy down from the METAR.

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