Along with wind, clouds and moisture strongly affect daytime and nighttime temperatures. Some aspects of clouds and moisture help explain the variations in temperature from place to place; other aspects are responsible for large changes in temperature from day to day. This module discusses the effect on surface temperatures of soil type, surface moisture, and clouds.

1. To understand the effect of dew point temperature on the nighttime minimum temperature.
2. To understand the effect of fog on temperatures.
3. To understand the effect of clouds on temperatures.
4. To understand the effect of soil type on temperatures.
5. To be able to apply this knowledge to weather forecasting.

2. Dew Point Temperature
   • Does air hold water vapor?
   • The dew point temperature
   • Cooling past the dew point
3. Cooling Past The Dewpoint
4. Dew Point and Minimum Temperature
   • FORECASTING TECHNIQUE
   • An example
5. Clouds and Temperature
   • The moderating effect of clouds
   • Using clouds in your forecast
6. Land and Soil Conditions
   • Land and water
   • Soil moisture
   • Cities and the heat island effect
   • When does it matter for the forecast?
7. Land, Soil, and Forecasting
   • FORECASTING TECHNIQUE: Station and trajectories
8. Summary

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ATMO203 Home Page

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Texas A&M Atmospheric Sciences Dept. Home Page

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Questions or Comments

Technical: E-mail John Fulton < jdfult@nimbus.met.tamu.edu >
Scientific: E-mail Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon. < nielsen@ariel.met.tamu.edu >

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Copyright © 1996-2003 Texas A&M University, Texas A&M Atmospheric Sciences Department and Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon. All rights reserved.