Abundant Low Level Moisture Leads to Afternoon Orographic Convection, July 4th, 2008, Near Terlingua,Texas

The following images were taken on July 4th in the southern Trans-Pecos geographic province of southwestern Texas at Terlingua (old cinnabar mining townsite, early 20th century). The first image captures early dawn, as viewed from the porch of La Pasada Milagro (Terlingua), looking east at Chisos mountains in background, and reveals "low-land elevation" fog where surface dew points from low level moisture advection are near or equal to ambient surface air temperatures which were cooled katabaticly by descending heavier air from higher topographic elevations.

Casa Grande Peak (exhumed volcanic intrusion) is seen at far right background. The next image is looking southeast from same locale at morning sun illuminating the Santa Elena limestone cliffs along Rio Grande river. The next image was taken in late afternoon at developing convection from orographic lifting which produced brief torrential rains and cloud to ground lightning. Mule Ear Peaks, southern extent of Chisos mountains, can been seen at left distant background and Santa Elena cliffs along Rio Grande are seen in distant center to right background. The final image, zoomed, portrays color contrast of Cretaceous claystones and siltstones (yellow) in foreground with purple/blue opaque rain core beneath Nimbocumulus, background. Visible Santa Elena limestone cliffs along the Rio Grande river are seen, right background, before becoming obscure a short time later.