Skew-T Log-P graphs

1. CCL = 885 mb
CT = 24.1 °C
LCL = 890 mb
LFC = 745 mb
EL = 197 mb
θ = 40.4 °C

2. The sounding on the left is at 0700 CDT on September 20, 2008. The sounding on the right is at 1900 CDT on September 20, 2008.

3. The sounding on the left has a sharp temperature inversion at the surface, and a large dewpoint inversion at 700 mb. It also has a smaller dewpoint inversion at 500 mb. The sounding on the right has a small dewpoint inversion at ~750 mb, and the same small dewpoint inversion at 500 mb. It also has no significant temperature inversions.

4. This inversion is due to radiation. It developed because the earth's longwave radiation warmed the air directly above it, but not at the surface.

5. As incoming solar radiation took over, the surface of the earth warmed to a greater temperature than the lower levels of the troposhpere. The atmosphere below the 800 mb line can best be described as dry adiabatic -- the temperature line follows a dry adiabat to 800 mb.

6. SHOW - the Showalter index
BRCH - the Bulk Richardson number
LFCT - the Level of Free Convection
KINX - the K index

7.

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