Project 3: Convection

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

See Instructions.

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

See Instructions.

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