[gradsusr] surface Convective Available Potential Energy

[Jayakrishnan P.R]

Hello,

CAPE is the potential energy attained by a parcel of air when it is lifted
from  Level of Free Convection (LFC) up to Level of neutral buoyancy (LNB)
saturated adiabatically. In Tphigram it is represented by the positive area
embedded between the saturated adiabat and the dry bulb temperature. You
can have a visualization of CAPE by drawing Tphigram using one of the
radiosonde profile at a tropical station. . The more the CAPE, the
atmospheric convection and instability is found to be more..Generally
during thunderstorm activity over tropical region CAPE value can reach upto
7000 or 8000 J/Kg. This is the physical explanation of CAPE. If you want
more details then kindly refer some atmospheric thermodynamic books such as
S.L. Hess, Introduction to theoretical meteorology...Best of Luck.....
-- 
Sincerely
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Jayakrishnan.P.R
CSIR-Senior Research Fellow
Department of Atmospheric Sciences
Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Cochin-682 016
Kerala, India.
Mob: 09895417565

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