Tropical Soundings

Stratocumulus Regime Extremely shallow moist layer and extreme capping; no mechanism to remove the cap; large scale subsidence strengthens the cap

Trade Wind Regime Moist layer a little deeper, but very dry aloft; no mechanism to remove the cap.

Indo/Pacific Warm Pool Marginally conditionally unstable through depth of troposphere. LCL low. Warm moist sfc air can get above LCL and have slight buoyancy to great heights, deep clouds, but relatively weak updrafts.

Indo/Pacific Warm Pool Marginally conditionally unstable through depth of troposphere. LCL low. Warm moist sfc air can get above LCL and have slight buoyancy to great heights, deep clouds, but relatively weak updrafts. Can’t generate large buoyancy

West African Squall Line No cap whatsoever. Very unstable all levels. LCL and LFC are elevated because air dry at lower levels. Once air gets above LFC, it can have very large buoyancy, strong updrafts, graupel, hail, lightning.

West African Squall Line No cap whatsoever. Very unstable all levels. LCL and LFC are elevated because air dry at lower levels. Once air gets above LFC, it can have very large buoyancy, strong updrafts, graupel, hail, lightning. Can generate huge buoyancy

Jordan’s (1958) mean sounding for the West Indies West Pacific Similar to Plot from Montgomery et al. 2006

Hurricane Erin (2001) Halverson et al.

Hurricane Soundings and Jordan Sounding Sheets 1969

“Hot Tower” Hypothesis Riehl & Malkus 1958

Tornado Soundings

Oklahoma Severe Thunderstorm Extremely CU both above and below the cap. Cap is not so extreme that it can’t be removed by trough or front. Moderately moist aloft, so easily saturated.

Average Oklahoma Tornado Sounding Fawbush and Miller 1951

Development of an Oklahoma Tornado Sounding Cools Warms Lifting removes the negative area Moist Adiabat Newton 1963