Like surface observations, this data can also be plotted on a constant pressure chart or map to give a visual representation of the structure of pressure waves in the upper atmosphere at various altitudes. Effects of Moisture Moisture levels play a major role in cloud formation, precipitation amounts, and severe storm development. Skew T diagrams allow for the moisture levels to be tracked through the column of the atmosphere measured and are used in forecasting the above mentioned weather phenomenon. Here is a good site developed by the University of Minnesota, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate that explains why moisture is significant and discussion on how moisture levels are determined from the Skew T diagram. Inversions, Lapse Rates, and Adiabatic Lapse Rates Temperature inversions are defined as the increase of air temperature with altitude.
Inversions play an important role in determining cloud forms, precipitation, and visibility.
An inversion acts as a lid on the vertical movement of air in the layers below. As a consequence, convection produced by heating the air from below is limited to levels beneath the inversion. Diffusion of dust, smoke, and other air pollutants is likewise limited. In regions where a pronounced inversion is present at a low level, convective clouds cannot grow high enough to result in showers and, at the same time, visibility may be greatly reduced below the inversion, even in the absence of clouds, by the accumulation of dust and smoke particles. Because the air near the base of the inversion is cool, fog is frequently present there.