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Weather Gurus

A

AaronB

Golden Member
This is just something I was thinking about today. Why are there differences in summer weather betwen Arizona and Louisiana? Both are at about the same latitude aren't they? What causes the dryness and high temps in Arizona?

Arizona = Very dry and very hot (tops out at around 115 degrees)
Louisiana = Very humid and only somewhat hot (tops out at about 99 degrees or so)

EDIT: I guess the underlying question is how did Arizona become a desert while Louisiana became a swamp?
 
Proximity to the coast keeps humidity high, and temps a bit cooler. Proximity to mountains, creates a dry air, and it hardly rains. Deserts are usually on the opposite sides of mountain ranges.
 
Originally posted by: Quasmo
Proximity to the coast keeps humidity high, and temps a bit cooler. Proximity to mountains, creates a dry air, and it hardly rains. Deserts are usually on the opposite sides of mountain ranges.
Click to expand...


Why is that? Can you explain how this happens?
 
Orographic lift up the side of the mountain makes the air cool to the dew point. This condenses causing clouds and rain, dumping out all its moisture. Then the air when it falls down the other side of the mountain it is compressed very rapidly resulting in heating. Then we have hot, dry air. Voila, Arizona.
 
Originally posted by: AaronB
Originally posted by: Quasmo
Proximity to the coast keeps humidity high, and temps a bit cooler. Proximity to mountains, creates a dry air, and it hardly rains. Deserts are usually on the opposite sides of mountain ranges.
Click to expand...


Why is that? Can you explain how this happens?
Click to expand...

Water is the equalizer. It's the reason why Hawaii's record highs and lows are only a few degrees off the average.

It's the reason why Anchorage Alaska might see zero degrees while only 300 miles north Fairbanks will be at -60. And vice versa in the summer when Anchorage will be lucky to see 65 and Fairbanks will be near 100.

The ocean is like a giant temperature capacitor.
 
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