View source for Convective available potential energy



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== convective available potential energy ==
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<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">(Abbreviated CAPE.) The maximum energy available to an  ascending [[parcel]], according to parcel theory.</div><br/> <div class="paragraph">On a [[thermodynamic diagram]] this is called positive area, and can be seen as the region  between the lifted parcel process curve and the environmental [[sounding]], from the parcel's [[level  of free convection]] to its [[level of neutral buoyancy]]. It may be defined as  <div class="display-formula"><blockquote>[[File:ams2001glos-Ce30.gif|link=|center|ams2001glos-Ce30]]</blockquote></div> where &#x003b1;<sub>''e''</sub> is the environmental [[specific volume]] profile, &#x003b1;<sub>''p''</sub> is the specific volume of a parcel moving  upward moist-adiabatically from the level of free convection, ''p''<sub>''f''</sub> is the [[pressure]] at the level of free  convection, and ''p''<sub>''n''</sub> is the pressure at the level of neutral buoyancy. The value depends on whether  the [[moist-adiabatic process]] is considered reversible or irreversible (conventionally irreversible)  and whether the [[latent heat]] of [[freezing]] is considered (conventionally not). <br/>''Compare'' [[convective  inhibition]].</div><br/> </div>
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