In this project we enquire in to the nature of the convective process. We will simulate convection in the laboratory using a tank of water with a heating pad at its base and study convection in the atmosphere using thermodynamic diagrams.
Project Description (PDF)
Notes on relevant theory:
Convection of an incompressible fluid (PDF)
Convection in a compressible atmosphere (PDF)
Lecture Notes from course 12.003 (Physics of Atmospheres and Oceans) - Chapter 4: Convection (
PDF - 1.9 MB)
Tank Experiment
A description of the Convection Experiment can be found at the Weather in a Tank Web site
Atmospheric Data
Dry convection
Example: Aberdeen, SD July 15-16, 2006 - Surface Map
- Temperature Potential Temperature on July 15, 2006 12Z
- Temperature Potential Temperature on July 16, 2006 00Z
Case Study: Yuma, AZ June 18, 2007 - see Surface Map
Data:
- Altitude, Pressure, Temperature, and Dew Point data every two hours - Excel, MATLAB
- Station surface data including incoming solar radiation - Excel, MATLAB
Create your own plots:
- Inspect archive of US_satellite Images US_surface Maps to choose the appropriate examples
- Radiosondes obs (850mb) to get the name of the sounding location
- Radiosondes Profile (choose SNPARM = thta for dry convection)
Moist convection
Example: Tallahassee, FL, April 14, 2008
- Surface Map - Current IR Satellite Image - Archived IR Satellite Image
- Theta / Log-P diagrams: 14 00
- Theta-e / Log-P diagram: 14 00Z
- Theta-es / Log-P diagram: 14 00Z
Case Study: Charleston, SC April 13, 2008
Create your own profile:
- Radiosondes obs (850mb) to get the name of the sounding location
- Sounding Profile - for moist convection set SNPARM = thte (equivalent potential temperature) or thts (saturation equivalent potential temperature)
Other links:
- Satellite Images (Naval Research Laboratory- Monterey) - global imagery