Skew T

What is a skew-T diagram? Diagram used to plot vertical profiles through the atmosphere Determine atmospheric stability

WHAT MAKES UP A SKEW-T DIAGRAM ?

Isobars Horizontal lines From 1050 hPa up to 100 hPa Plotted every 50 hPa

Isotherms Lines of constant temperature Straight, solid lines from the lower left to upper right

Dry Adiabats Lines of constant potential temperature Solid, slightly curved lines sloping from the upper left to the lower right Rate of temperature change in a parcel of dry air rising/descending adiabatically (no loss or gain of heat by the parcel)

Saturation/Moist Adiabats Lines of constant equivalent potential temperature Curved dashed lines – slope and spacing varies with height and temperature Becomes parallel to dry adiabats as pressure moisture, and temperature decrease w s = M v / M d Ratio of mass of water vapor to mass of dry air at saturation

Saturation Mixing Ratio Lines represent constant values of water vapor capacity Labeling of the lines is not uniform because vapor capacity of air varies non-linearly with temperature

A)ISOBAR B)DRY ADIABAT C)SATURATION ADIABAR D)ISOTHERM E)SATURATION MIXING- RATIO

Wind Plain end of staff points in the direction that the wind is blowing toward Speed is plotted with barbs and flags: flag = 50 knots Full barb = 10 knots Half barb = 5 knots 55 kt 250° / WSW 35 kt 135° / SE