View source for Convective available potential energy

== convective available potential energy ==

<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">(Abbreviated CAPE.) The maximum buoyancy of an undiluted air parcel, related to the potential updraft strength of [[thunderstorms]].</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]]. CAPE may be expressed as follows: <div class="display-formula"><blockquote>[[File:CAPE_equation.png|link=|center|CAPE equation]]</blockquote></div> where ''T<sub>υp</sub>'' is the virtual temperature of a lifted parcel moving upward moist adiabatically from the [[level of free convection]] to the [[level of neutral buoyancy]], ''T<sub>υe</sub>'' is the virtual temperature of the [[environment]], ''R<sub>d</sub>'' is the [[specific]] gas constant for [[dry air]], ''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 to be reversible or irreversible (conventionally irreversible, or a [[pseudoadiabatic process]] in which condensed water immediately falls out of the parcel) and whether the [[latent_heat|latent heat of freezing]] is considered (conventionally not). It is assumed that the environment is in [[hydrostatic balance]] and that the pressure of the parcel is the same as that of the environment. [[Virtual temperature]] is used for the parcel and environment to account for the effect of moisture on air density.<br/>
''Compare'' [[convective inhibition]].</div><br/> </div>

<p>''Term updated 1 May 2017.''</p>

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