Weather processes and clouds



Image from Google,  Map of Russia and Asia

  The location of the Ural Mountains creates separation of Asia from Europe. They are one of the higher mountain ranges in Eastern Europe and contribute to weather patterns in the region. 

Image from Bing Images, Orographic lifting, adiabatic heating/cooling

 The Urals are an obstacle for air trying to move over them creating Orographic lifting.  As air pushes over the western slopes clouds form and precipitation can occur.   This process drives weather patterns and cyclonic effects over Asia and eastern Russia. 

From Google images, Satellite view of Ural Mountains, Demonstrates rain-shadow on leeward side as well as wispy clouds pushing through the mountains

From Google images, A closer view of clouds pushing over the Urals in adiabatic process

Bing images,  High lenticular clouds

Google images,  Extremely high cirrus clouds

As stable air is pushed upward, the air is cooled to the dew point (lifting condensation level) and creates precipitation on the western slopes, this can also account for high cirrus clouds and lenticular cloud formations on the eastern side of the Urals.  Unstable air pushes over the mountains and settles creating precipitation within the mountains, typically snow due to the sub-polar climate.

 Image from class lectures, demonstrates and explains orographic lifting and precipitation

The eastern side (leeward) of the Urals is in a rain shadow creating a much drier arid environment.  This leeward side of the Urals can be punished with extremely cold Chinook winds from adiabatic warming of the air on the down slope.

Much like North America weather patterns move primarily from West to East with colder airs approaching from the north and warmer air from the south, this creates a slightly similar effect the Rocky Mountains have on the Front Range.

http://fast.ucdenver.edu/case/1202/Climate/Weather/Weather.html

earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=35963

http://accessscience.com/overflow.aspx?searchStr=Mountain&stype=4&term=Mountain&topic=EARTH:PHYS&p=5

http://www.russiansabroad.com/russian_history_96.html

www.rusnet.nl/encyclo/u/urals_physic.shtml