Boundary layer thermodynamics of a High Plains severe storm.

A new analysis method based on air parcel saturation point is used to intercompare data sampled by different systems (aircraft, rawinsondes, and a surface mesonet) during the passage of one severe storm in the 1981 Cooperative Convective Precipitation Experiment. The low-level thermodynamic structure simplifies into two distinct branches on a thermodynamic diagram. The lower tropospheric environment ahead of the severe storm has a characteristic mixing line structure while the storm low-level outflow has a distinct evaporation line structure.

Related paper: Betts, A. K., 1982: Saturation Point Analysis of Moist Convective Overturning.

Related paper: Betts, A. K., 1982: Cloud Thermodynamic Models in Saturation Point Coordinates.

Related paper: Betts, A. K., 1983: Thermodynamics of mixed stratocumulus layers: saturation point budgets.

Related paper: Betts, A. K., 1985: Mixing line analysis of clouds and cloudy boundary layers

Related paper: Betts, A. K., 1986: A new convective adjustment scheme. Part I

Related paper: Betts, A. K. and M.J. Miller, 1986: A new convective adjustment scheme. Part II