the_photon
Hey all,
Question: I feel like I understand most of the basics of a skew-t log-p plot. Having a background in physics, I am comfortable with logarithmic axes, adiabats and isotherms, and why the grid lines on these plots are funky. However, there are two lines of data that I see on the Storm Prediction Center's radiosonde plots that just don't quite make sense.
The first is the dashed line that is usually just to the right of the observed temperature (which is itself usually in red). From what I have been told, this line shows what temperatures (at various pressures/altitudes) a dry parcel of air would evolve in to if it were released from the surface and lifted adiabatically. Is this correct?
The second line that I am confused about is a line that is usually blue, and usually just to the right of the dew point recordings (which are usually themselves in green). I haven't the vaguest idea what this line is (other than to make guesses -- maybe a saturated parcel of air rising adiabatically?) Can someone explain this blue line? I haven't seen this blue line discussed anywhere in wikipedia, etc.
Last question is that I have noticed on most skew-t log-p diagrams, there is some altitude (usually 800 feet or so above the surface) where the dew point takes a rather rapid drop. Is there a name for this boundary layer? What kinds of conclusions can be drawn from these rapid drops?
thanks all,
the_photon
Question: I feel like I understand most of the basics of a skew-t log-p plot. Having a background in physics, I am comfortable with logarithmic axes, adiabats and isotherms, and why the grid lines on these plots are funky. However, there are two lines of data that I see on the Storm Prediction Center's radiosonde plots that just don't quite make sense.
The first is the dashed line that is usually just to the right of the observed temperature (which is itself usually in red). From what I have been told, this line shows what temperatures (at various pressures/altitudes) a dry parcel of air would evolve in to if it were released from the surface and lifted adiabatically. Is this correct?
The second line that I am confused about is a line that is usually blue, and usually just to the right of the dew point recordings (which are usually themselves in green). I haven't the vaguest idea what this line is (other than to make guesses -- maybe a saturated parcel of air rising adiabatically?) Can someone explain this blue line? I haven't seen this blue line discussed anywhere in wikipedia, etc.
Last question is that I have noticed on most skew-t log-p diagrams, there is some altitude (usually 800 feet or so above the surface) where the dew point takes a rather rapid drop. Is there a name for this boundary layer? What kinds of conclusions can be drawn from these rapid drops?
thanks all,
the_photon
