The role of advection in the formation of vortex cloud patterns

A case study of the spiral cloud patterns associated with an atmospheric vortex, as seen by the TIROS meteorological satellite, shows that advection can be a dominant mechanism in the formation of these patterns. This advection is then interpreted in terms of the horizontal and vertical structure of the low pressure system with which the clouds are associated. This case study indicates that the TIROS pictures are particularly well suited for the study of horizontal advection and show promise of yielding quantitative information.