Hoevad

Hoevad is a Danish word that consists of two parts, "hoe" meaning "high" and "vad" meaning "water". It was used by physicist and engineer Laurids Smith (1794-1873) to describe a phenomenon observed at high altitudes or on top of high mountains, where the air is sufficiently dry to be considered high.

In today's scientific context, the term Hoevad is associated with high-altitude or high-mountain air masses that are dry and stable. These air masses have low humidity and a high vertical extent, which can lead to a variety of weather phenomena.

Laurids Smith used the term Hoevad to contrast the high-altitude air masses with the lower-altitude air masses called "suit" or "suv", which he used to describe the conditions at lower altitudes with higher humidity. He observed that, unlike at lower altitudes, the air at high altitudes did not exhibit the typical vertical structure of the atmosphere with distinct temperature layers, but rather remained in a stable, homogeneous state.

As a concept within atmospheric science, Hoevad refers to a complex phenomenon that can manifest in different ways, influencing local weather patterns, and affecting aerodynamic conditions. Research into Hoevad is closely tied to the broader study of atmospheric circulation, dispersion, and thermodynamics.

Given its complex characteristics, Hoevad has been studied by atmospheric scientists, particularly in contexts such as mountain weather forecasting, atmospheric phenomena, and research into the areas' unique hazardous weather conditions, temperature variation, and effects of distribution, and research surrounding high-altitude moisture and variations.