What causes the marine layer in California?

The marine layer forms when relatively dry and warm air moves atop a body of cooler water. The warmer air close to the surface of the water cools and, thanks to its proximity to the water, becomes saturated with water vapor. This often leads to the famous low-level cloud formation.

What influences the development of marine layers?

The depth of the marine layer depends upon the large-scale weather patterns that pass high overhead. Sinking air, under high pressure systems, located at elevations from 15,000 to 30,000 feet (4,500 to 9,000 meters), will squash the marine layer down to the earth’s surface.

What causes marine layer in San Diego?

The main reason is that the Pacific High pressure system is strongest during these months. The subsiding air within the Pacific High helps form the stable inversion layer that allows these marine layer clouds to form. The Pacific High usually reaches its maximum intensity around July.

What odd phenomenon is caused by the marine layer in California?

Coastal marine fog is an important meteorological phenomenon for California. A cloud—either stratus or stratocumulus—is called “fog” when it is low or touching the ground.

Where do marine layers occur?

A marine layer is an air mass that develops over the surface of a large body of water, such as an ocean or large lake, in the presence of a temperature inversion. The inversion itself is usually initiated by the cooling effect of the water on the surface layer of an otherwise warm air mass.

What causes haze over the ocean?

As warm, humid air crosses over the cooler ocean water, the air temperature begins to cool. Once the air cools enough to meet the dew point temperature then the air mass becomes saturated and sea fog forms. Sea fog is most common in Tampa Bay during the winter and spring months because the ocean water is coolest.

What are the factors that affect the marine ecosystem?

Biotic factors include plants, animals, and microbes; important abiotic factors include the amount of sunlight in the ecosystem, the amount of oxygen and nutrients dissolved in the water, proximity to land, depth, and temperature. Sunlight is one the most important abiotic factors for marine ecosystems.

What are the factors affecting the composition of marine biomes?

Abiotic factors that influence aquatic biomes include light availability, depth, stratification, temperature, currents, and tides.

What effect does the marine layer have on smoke?

A healthy marine layer keeps coastal temperature stable and lower than inland surface temperatures. It plays a critical role during wildfire season through insulating the ground from smoke and locking in moisture. This results in better air quality, and lowers the risk for large wildfires along the coast.

What causes June gloom in California?

June Gloom is a California term for a weather pattern that results in cloudy, overcast skies with cool temperatures during the late spring and early summer. Low-altitude stratus clouds form over the cool water of the California Current, and spread overnight into the coastal regions of California.

What causes fog in Los Angeles?

Advection (Sea) fog occurs when warm air advects over cool ocean air, cooling the air from below to its dew point temperature and producing fog. Typically this occurs in regions of cold ocean currents to the west of continents, such as over the northeast Pacific Ocean off of the coast of California.

What causes sea fog in the morning?

Fog appears when water vapor (water in its gaseous form) condenses. During condensation, molecules of water vapor combine to make tiny liquid water droplets that hang in the air. Sea fog, which shows up near bodies of saline water, is formed as water vapor condenses on bits of salt.