What does a Tephigram show?

A BASIC INTRODUCTION Basically, a tephigram shows the temperature of a vertical profile of the atmosphere. Because a rising thermal acts as an enclosed parcel of air, it cools at a different temperature to the surrounding air.

What is a skew T used for?

The “Skew-T Log P” thermodynamic diagram used for plotting upper air observations. Once the radiosonde observation is plotted, the Skew-T will show the temperature, dew point, and wind speed/direction.

What is a Tephigram used for?

Introduction. The tephigram is a thermodynamic diagram used to plot vertical profiles of atmospheric temperature, moisture, and wind. (See an example blank tephigram, which opens in a separate window.) It has been used for many decades to assess a variety of meteorological conditions, most notably atmospheric stability …

What is the average lapse rate?

air—commonly referred to as the normal, or environmental, lapse rate—is highly variable, being affected by radiation, convection, and condensation; it averages about 6.5 °C per kilometre (18.8 °F per mile) in the lower atmosphere (troposphere).

How do you make a Tephigram?

Tephigram Procedure: From the dewpoint at the given pressure, draw a line upward along a saturation mixing-ratio line. Also, from the T curve at the given pressure, draw a line upward along a dry adiabat until it intersects the line drawn from the dewpoint at the LCL.

What is the purple line on a skew-T?

These parallel lines of constant temperature (called “isotherms”) have been titled or “skewed” 45 degrees in a clockwise direction to allow the plotting of very low air temperatures at higher altitudes. The purple numbers are the starting point for dashed purple lines that are vertical but somewhat curved.

How do you find the mixing ratio of a skew-T?

Found by dividing the mixing ratio by the saturation mixing ratio or the vapor pressure divided by the saturation vapor pressure. Find the saturation mixing ratio value that runs through the dewpoint and the temperature. Next, divide the dewpoint mixing ratio by the temperature mixing ratio.

How is the skew-T log P diagram used?

Skew-T Log-P Diagrams The “Skew-T Log P” thermodynamic diagram used for plotting upper air observations. Once the radiosonde observation is plotted, the Skew-T will show the temperature, dew point, and wind speed/direction. From these basic values a wealth of information can be obtained concerning the meteorological condition of the upper air.

How are temperature lines drawn in the skew-T diagram?

There are six basic set of fixed lines that comprise the skew-t diagram. (You can toggle on/off each of these lines on the image at bottom.) Temperature lines are drawn at a 45° angle with temperature values that increase from the upper left to the lower right corner of the chart.

What do you need to know about the tephigram?

Tephigrams are a meteorological forecasting tool. The tephigram is also sometimes known as the Skew-T diagramor, more correctly, the Skew-T – Log P diagram. Tephigrams can be used to forecast:

How to create temperature and dewpoint curves on a tephigram?

To create temperature and dewpoint curves on a tephigram, first plot the temperature and dewpoint at each individual pressure level in the sounding. All mandatory and significant level sounding data should be plotted. Then, connect the temperature points with straight lines between successive pressure levels, often using red.