Have you noticed the stunning sunrises and sunsets in the Bay Area lately? These two photos taken by Linh on July 24 at Crissy are mesmerizing. In the first scene, the wind has died down, wings, kites, and sails are furled, and sparse marine stratus clouds are tiptoeing through the Golden Gate.
But just an hour later, a young couple enjoyed the sunset view we all take for granted. Marine clouds thicken and the drab brown heat wave air transforms into golden clumps.
Personally, I love watching and photographing sunrises and sunsets, but as a meteorologist, I'm also fascinated by the reasons for this beauty.
You may find that during heat waves, marine stratus clouds become compressed and move less inland. You may also notice that daytime skies often look dark, with a brownish tint near the surface. Likewise, when we have a heat wave, the sunrises/sunsets are the most beautiful.
First up is the Metropolis. Jargon background. The greater San Francisco Bay Area is receiving southwest coastal winds from a counterclockwise eddy to our west. Typically, this means deep marine stratus clouds flowing into the Gulf along with strong winds from the Golden Gate to the Delta.
But during this vortex event, a ridge of high pressure also developed over much of California. As these graphics show, high-pressure sinking air pushes marine stratus clouds and natural and man-made particles toward the surface. At the same time, the resulting heat expanded over the East Bay coast, killing strong winds.
So please forgive me for desecrating these glorious images of Linh and the camera images of Marin and 3rd. Ave with meteorological notes.
