Concept in Definition ABC

On Meteorology it is called cold drop yet volume limited of air cold in high atmospheric levels. Meanwhile, in a weather chart (scale horizontal length of the order of 1,000 km. or more, it is represented surrounded by isotherms (in a cartographic plane, a curve that joins the points that have the same temperatures in the unit of time considered) closed.

It should be noted that the diameter of the cold drop can range from hundreds to thousands of kilometers, it is homogeneous, it does not present a line head-on that separates it from the surrounding masses and has a determining influence on the weather.

While with the to run over the years and advances in observation of meteorological phenomena, the cold drop concept became outdated and became obsolete for most meteorological schools, in countries such as Spain and GermanyEven today, it retains an important presence in common language.
In the mid-twentieth century the newer denomination of Isolated depression

, but, anyway, in popular language the name cold drop is still used to refer to that disturbance that can cause very heavy rainfall for hours or days, accompanied by lightning and hail and affecting small or medium-scale surfaces, following unpredictable paths that also cause intense winds.

The origin of the cold drop phenomenon is especially linked to Western mediterranean sea; During the months of October, when the marine waters are much warmer in relation to the continental lands, they generates significant atmospheric instability that ends up generating very intense rainfall that affects the coasts more upcoming. The cold drop will be more important the higher the temperature of marine waters, because the water vapor rises so fast and condenses, immediately forming high-altitude clouds.
Although the cold drop is more frequent in the middle latitudes, it is in the Mediterranean environments where it is most important.

Throughout the history of Spain, the cold drop has caused in different parts of the country severe disorders by floods that isolated or destroyed entire populations.

Themes in Cold Drop