Lapse Rates

[Dean Baron]

I know that lapse rates are the change in temp. with height, and i know the larger the lapse rate the better the chances for severe weather are, but i dont know how to incorporate them in to forecasting. how do lapse rates increase the chance for severe weather? i have also seen the SPC talk about lapse rates and increased potential for damaging winds. why is that?

 

[rdale]

Check the Bouyancy and Skew-T modules.

http://www.meted.ucar.edu/topics_convective.php

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

From what I've learned (a newbie), lapse rates increase the rates of condensation at lower levels.
It also helps the lift and instability (& bouyancy?) aspect of the four main ingredients for storm formation: Lift, Moisture, Wind Shear, and Instability.

Please correct me if I am wrong too...

 

[Bobby Prentice]

I know that lapse rates are the change in temp. with height, and i know the larger the lapse rate the better the chances for severe weather are, but i dont know how to incorporate them in to forecasting. how do lapse rates increase the chance for severe weather? i have also seen the SPC talk about lapse rates and increased potential for damaging winds. why is that?

Atmospheric stability decreases with increasing lapse rates. In general, the more unstable the airmass, the stronger the convective updrafts, and the greater the risk for severe weather. However, instability is not the only contributor to updraft strength; vertical wind shear can play a significant role in supercells through the development of perturbation pressure gradient forces.

The Wikipedia - Lapse Rate entry provides a decent description of lapse rate.