Free convective layer
In
potential instability in the troposphere. It is a layer in which rising air can experience positive buoyancy (PBE) so that deep, moist convection (DMC) can occur. On an atmospheric sounding, it is the layer between the level of free convection (LFC) and the equilibrium level
(EL). The FCL is important to a variety of convective processes and to severe thunderstorm forecasting.
It is the layer of instability, the "positive area" on
air parcel is warmer than its environment. Integrating buoyant energy from the LFC to the EL gives the amount of convective available potential energy (CAPE), an estimate of the maximum energy available to convection
. The depth of the FCL is expressed by the formula:
- FCL = ZEL - ZLFC
or
- FCL = PEL - PLFC
Deep, moist convection is essentially a
updrafts
and faster air parcel ascent.
See also
References
- Blanchard, David O. (Sep 1998). Assessing the Vertical Distribution of Convective Available Potential Energy. Weather and Forecasting, 13 (3): 870–877.
External links
- Atmospheric indices (National Weather Service St. Louis)
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