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First day of the Atlantic Hurricane season, no tropical activity on the horizon in the near term. Mid August is usually when things pick up.
Days since last H. Landfall - US: Any 277 (Idalia) , Major: 277 (Idalia) Florida - Any: 277 (Idalia) Major: 277 (Idalia)
 


General Discussion >> Hurricane Ask/Tell

Clark
Meteorologist


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Posts: 1710
Re: convective diurnal maximum
      Thu Jul 14 2005 10:32 PM

I think I can take a better stab at it, but apologies ahead of time if it seems jumbled.

At night, the atmospheric profile -- including the near-surface profile -- is relatively moist due to the lack of daytime heating. At night, generally temperatures fall to the dewpoint; this is no different in the tropics. Tropical convection inherently does not depend upon CAPE (convective available potential energy), which is at a maximum during the day due to daytime heating; this is why you see a convective maximum late in the afternoon over land. With a moister profile through the atmosphere and given sufficient forcing for rising motion -- in the tropics, generally from converging winds at low levels in association with a tropical wave or the ITCZ...or even a tropical cyclone -- convection is more likely to be at its maximum just before the sun comes up. It also helps, particularly for tropical cyclones, that at or just after nightfall, SSTs are at a relative maximum for the day. At that time, convection/tropical systems can tap into the increased surface heat and moisture energy, something that continues through the night in conjunction with the aforementioned moisture profile, allowing for increased development.

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Entire topic
Subject Posted by Posted on
* convective diurnal maximum Lysis Thu Jul 14 2005 10:32 PM
. * * Re: convective diurnal maximum Clark   Thu Jul 14 2005 10:32 PM
. * * Re: convective diurnal maximum Lysis   Thu Jul 14 2005 10:40 PM
. * * Re: convective diurnal maximum Clark   Thu Jul 14 2005 11:42 PM
. * * Re: convective diurnal maximum Keith234   Thu Jul 14 2005 11:58 PM
. * * Re: convective diurnal maximum Clark   Fri Jul 15 2005 02:56 AM
. * * Re: convective diurnal maximum Keith234   Fri Jul 15 2005 01:38 PM
. * * Re: convective diurnal maximum Clark   Fri Jul 15 2005 02:41 PM
. * * Re: convective diurnal maximum Lysis   Fri Jul 15 2005 01:27 AM
. * * Re: convective diurnal maximum Keith234   Fri Jul 15 2005 01:37 AM
. * * Re: convective diurnal maximum Terra   Fri Jul 15 2005 01:47 AM
. * * Re: convective diurnal maximum Keith234   Fri Jul 15 2005 01:55 AM
. * * Re: convective diurnal maximum Terra   Thu Jul 14 2005 11:30 PM
. * * Re: convective diurnal maximum Terra   Thu Jul 14 2005 09:58 PM
. * * Re: convective diurnal maximum Keith234   Thu Jul 14 2005 08:34 PM
. * * Re: convective diurnal maximum Lysis   Thu Jul 14 2005 09:34 PM

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