What happens to the temperature-dew point spread during cloud dissipation?

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During the process of cloud dissipation, the temperature-dew point spread tends to increase. This occurs because, as clouds dissipate, the water vapor that was previously suspended in the atmosphere starts to evaporate. As the water vapor decreases, the air becomes drier, and the dew point, which is a measure of the moisture in the air, will lower while the temperature remains relatively constant or may even increase slightly.

As a result, the difference between the temperature and the dew point widens, leading to an increase in the temperature-dew point spread. This phenomenon can help signal the drying of the air mass and the loss of cloud cover, indicating that the humidity level is dropping as the clouds break apart. Understanding this relationship is essential for predicting changes in weather conditions and for managing flight operations, as cloud dissipation can affect visibility and other atmospheric parameters.

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