2011 by Kelly Boyd

Atmospheric Thermodynamic Stability Indices

Presented to Dr. Jill Coleman
Ball State University Department of Geography Presented By: Kelly Boyd 11/28/2011

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Atmospheric thermodynamics is an area of atmospheric science which helps to explain severe thunderstorm forecasting quantitatively. Specifically, the thermodynamic concepts of atmospheric convection and stability are necessary to understand in order to forecast correctly. Atmospheric convection is the transport of some property (usually energy) by fluid movement, and this concept is most often associated with heat transport through the troposphere (Doswell 2001). Convective stability indices have been proven to forecast these events throughout many years. Typically, these indices described by thermodynamic variables such as temperature, pressure and dew point, can be used to forecast deep moist convection (DMC), an important factor for thunderstorm development (Ibid). DMC is an evolutionary process that exhibits a response to atmospheric disequilibrium of energy (Ibid). For this unbalance of energy, the atmosphere responds with a release of energy to realign the atmosphere back into thermodynamic equilibrium. Thermodynamic stability indexes measure this disequilibrium and realignment of energy. With that in mind, it is important to note that no particular thermodynamic index is better than another when forecasting instability, but an integration or combination of indices can help forecast thunderstorms and severe weather better when DMC takes place. This essay will first examine the different types of static stability concepts in thunderstorm forecasting and then highlight select indices to help explain their derivations, their theories and their uses to forecast thunderstorms. Under the realm of parcel theory, static stability is defined as the steadiness of an atmosphere in hydrostatic equilibrium with respect to vertical displacements (Peppler 1988). Parcel theory is based on displacements of air introduced to a steady state atmosphere under the assumption that only the parcel is moved and the environment remains unchanged (Ibid). The displaced parcel is assumed to undergo adiabatic temperature changes, meaning that it is
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thermally insulated from its environment disallows energy transfers between the parcel medium as the parcel lifts through the atmosphere (Ibid). If the parcel is unstable with abundant low-level moisture and has a triggering mechanism such as a front or mid-latitude cyclone to lift, convective weather and rainfall can develop. Therefore, stability is one of the main measurements of the atmosphere within which thunderstorms and severe weather develop. Thermodynamic indices can help forecast these events. There are several types of static stability scenarios. The four major types of static stability which help to describe the thermodynamic indices mentioned in this essay are conditional instability, absolute instability, latent instability and convective instability. Conditional instability can described the stability of the atmosphere considering unsaturated and saturated air parcels. It can be formally defined as the state of a column of air in the atmosphere when its lapse rate of temperature is less than the dry-adiabatic lapse rate but greater than the saturationadiabatic lapse rate (Ibid). It is then said that the vertical displacement of a parcel of air is to be unstable when it rises as saturated but is stable if it sinks and is unsaturated. Next, absolute instability refers to an environmental lapse rate (ELR) which is greater than the dry adiabatic lapse rate so that all displaced parcels of air around the parcel, including both saturated and unsaturated, will be unstable (Ibid). Latent instability is the state of a portion of a conditionally unstable air column lying above the level of free convection (LFC) which is obtained only if an initial impulse on a parcel gives it sufficient kinetic energy to carry it through the boundary layer below the LFC (Ibid). Latent instability is caused by latent heat given off during the process of water condensation above the LFC. This process adds energy to the atmosphere. Finally, the concept of convective instability is defined as the state of an unsaturated layer or column of air in the atmosphere
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whose wet-bulb potential temperature or equivalent potential temperature decreases with elevation where the body becomes completely saturated as it rises further in the atmosphere (Ibid). Convective instability usually takes place when the lower portion of the atmosphere is warm and moist and the remainder of the atmosphere above the boundary layer rapidly dries out. Stability indices can be arranged according to these definitions of stability above and by their originally-intended or traditional purpose (Ibid). The seven indices examined in this essay are the CAPE Index (including sub-indexes associated with CAPE), the Lifted Index, the K-Index, the Total-Totals Index, the Deep Convective Index and the Severe Weather Threat Index. These seven indices are the most widely used indices used in forecasting today and have been used for many decades since the early 1950s (Ibid). The first and most widely used thermodynamic index used for severe thunderstorm forecasting is the measurement of Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE). This index was developed by M. W. Moncrieff and J. S. A. Green in 1972 followed by further analysis by many other atmospheric scientists during the mid to late 1970s (Doswell 2001). This concept of energy is based upon parcel theory and is a measure of the buoyant energy available to accelerate a parcel of air into the upper troposphere, where buoyancy is defined as , where g is

defined by the acceleration due to gravity (9.80665 m s-2), TP is the temperature of a parcel of air in Kelvin, and TE is the temperature of the environment surrounding the air parcel also in Kelvin (Ibid). There are four major assumptions of the CAPE theory: (i) a rising parcel exhibits no environmental entrainment, (ii) the parcel rises moist adiabatically, (iii) all precipitation falls out of the parcel and (iv) the parcel pressure is equal to the environmental pressure at each level (NWS Louisville 2011). CAPE can be defined as an area on a thermodynamic diagram between the area to the right of the dry air temperature ascent line and to the left of the first moist adiabat
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line were this area can be integrated from the LFC to the equilibrium level (EL) (Blanchard 1998). The mathematical definition of this theory is:

where TVp is the virtual potential temperature of the parcel and TVe is the virtual potential temperature of the environment and g is the constant of gravity (Moncrieff and Green 1972). CAPE is measured in joules per kilogram (J kg-2) and has several thresholds of stability (NWS Louisville 2011). Typically, the greater the difference of temperature between two parcels of air, the larger the opportunity is for the warmer parcel to rise, hence the larger the CAPE value and the greater chance for severe weather to take place (Ibid). CAPE values of 0 J kg-2 to 1000 J kg-2 are generally stable, values of 1000 J kg-2 to 2500 J kg-2 are generally considered moderately unstable, while CAPE values of 2500 J kg-2 to 4000 J kg-2 are extremely unstable (Ibid). There are several different categories of CAPE used for various purposes in forecasting. Three predominate categories of CAPE are Most Unstable Convective Available Potential Energy (MUCAPE), Surface Based Convective Available Potential Energy (SBCAPE) and Mixed Layer Convective Available Potential Energy (MLCAPE) (Evans 2003). MUCAPE calculation represents the total amount of potential energy available to the most unstable parcel of air found within the lowest 300-millibar of the atmosphere while being lifted to its LFC (Ibid). This type of CAPE is useful in non-surface based instability forecasting and can show how high in the atmosphere instability is reaching (Ibid). The SBCAPE values denote the total amount of potential energy available to a parcel of air originating at the surface and then theoretically lifted to its level of free convection (Ibid). This CAPE value can give an estimate of energy available at the surface that will eventually rise, giving way to thunderstorm development (Ibid). This type of CAPE stability must first overcome the convective inhibition parameter (CIN) in order for

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thunderstorms to develop (Ibid). CIN is the amount of negative buoyant energy available to inhibit / suppress upward vertical acceleration or the amount of additional work the environment must do on a parcel to raise the parcel to its LFC (NWS Louisville 2011). Basically, CIN is negative CAPE which pushes air parcels down instead of the environment allowing it to rise. This is sometimes called a lid (Blanchard 1998). CIN is computed in a manner similar to CAPE and is defined as:

where, LFCZ is the height of the LFC, SFCZ is the height of the surface, TVP is the virtual potential temperature of the parcel, and TVe is the virtual potential temperature of the environment and g is gravity (Ibid). CIN values of less than or equal to 10 J kg-1 are usually small, whereas values greater than or equal to 50 J kg-1 are usually large which allow for CAPE to build until the lid is broken (Markowski and Richardson 2010). In typical daytime temperature and moisture profiles, CIN values are decreased when the effects of moisture are included (Ibid). Finally, MLCAPE is a measurement of energy in the lowest 100 mb of the troposphere where the parcel of air is lifted using the mean temperature and moisture (Evans 2003). This calculation of CAPE is usually used during the latter part of the day when the boundary layer is well mixed with moisture and convection (Ibid). This measurement of CAPE is often the best indicator of severe weather over a large area (Ibid). In concluding the index of CAPE, there are two widely used derived indices calculated using the CAPE formula, these are the Energy-Helicity Index (EHI) and the Bulk Richardson Number (BRN). The EHI is a straight-forward equation that combines helicity and instability (CAPE) into one number for estimating and assessing the potential for supercell thunderstorms

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and tornadoes (Davies 1993). Helicity is simply a measure of the amount of rotation found in a storms updraft measured in m2s-2 (The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 2011). Helicity primarily takes into account vertical wind shear in the upper levels of the atmosphere (Ibid). The EHI equation is ( ) , where the output of EHI is

a dimensionless number indicating whether tornadic initiation is possible (Davies 1993). The constant of 160,000 is used to reduce the scale of the EHI to single digits (Ibid). The EHI scale can range from zero, no possible chance of tornadoes or supercell thunderstorms, to five, a great threat of tornadoes and supercell thunderstorms (Ibid). In practice, anything over two and one half is worthy of possible tornado development (Ibid). Lastly, the second widely used CAPE derived index is the BRN. This derived indice from the thermodynamic concept of CAPE also integrates the dynamic concept of vertical wind shear. However in this equation, the wind velocity is inputted directly into the algorithm instead of calculating helicity before integrating into the equation. The equation for the BRN is
[ ( )]

,where U is the mean wind shear between the surface and 500 m above the surface

(Stensrud, Cortinas and Brooks 1997). Similar to EHI, this formula produces a dimensionless number (units cancel) that specifies the convective storm type within a given environment (Ibid). A BRN of nine or below signals strong vertical wind shear and weak CAPE where supercell thunderstorms may develop (depending on forcing), while a BRN number of ten to fifty are associated with supercell development because of high cape and moderate shear (Ibid). Anything over a BRN of fifty usually identifies strong CAPE and weak shear which indicates linear or multicellular thunderstorm development (Ibid).

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Another widely used thermodynamic index is the Lifted Index (LI). The LI is another measure of convective available potential energy that uses the difference of an air parcels temperature in Celsius at the surface to the 500 mb level of the parcel to the temperature of the surrounding environment at the 500 mb level (Galway 1956). The mathematical formula for the LI is

The lifted index was developed by Joseph Galway to forecast severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in the Midwest (Peppler 1988). It is predominately calculated using morning soundings and has been used to forecast afternoon convective activity (Ibid). This index is different from CAPE because it assumes a constant mean mixing ratio based on the lowest 3000 feet of the atmosphere (moisture), and the potential temperature corresponds to the dry-adiabat passing through a predicted afternoon maximum temperature (lapse rate in a static atmosphere) (Ibid). These assumptions were later turned into a formula based upon observing the environmental temperature at the 500 mb level and then subtracting the temperature at the 500 mb level inside the hypothetical parcel of air. The difference between these two numbers can determine the stability of the atmosphere with zero being the most stable and negative nine indicating extreme instability (NWS Louisville 2011). There are many different ways to calculate the LI. Two major methods include the Surface-Based Lift Index (SBLI, shown above) and the Showalter Index (SI). The SI was also developed by Joseph Galway and his colleague Albert Showalter, for whom it was named after (Showalter 1953). The SI is extensively used in the desert southwest portion of the United States given the lack of low level moisture throughout a majority of the year (Ibid). It is computed as a parcel of air is lifted to the 850 mb level by the dry adiabat to saturation and then pseudo7

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adiabatically to the 500mb level. Both temperatures are recorded with a difference of a negative number representing instability and a positive number indicating stability (Galway 1956). The SI may be better than the LI in showing instability aloft given the possibility of a shallow low-level cool air-mass north of a frontal boundary. However, the SI is an unrepresentative index and inferior to the LI in showing instability if the low-level moisture does not extend up to the 850 mb level (Peppler 1988). The SBLI is more widely used of the two indices. A fourth broadly used stability index is the K-Index (KI). This index is a measure of thunderstorm potential built upon the vertical temperature lapse rate plus the vertical range of low-level moisture in the lower atmosphere (NWS Louisville 2011). The KI was developed by an airline pilot named Joseph George (George 1960). The mathematical formula he developed is:

,
where temperatures are measured in degrees Celsius, Td is the dew point at 850mb and DD is the dew-point depression at 700mb (NWS Louisville 2011). A KI value of below thirty usually indicates a slight chance of thunderstorms with heavy rain, while a KI of over thirty indicates a good chance of thunderstorms with heavy rain (Ibid). KI are also used to determine the potential of airmass thunderstorms and flooding. When the K-index is quite high (above thirty five), it means there is a likelihood to see numerous thunderstorms develop that train over an area causing heavy rainfall and flooding (Ibid). A fifth commonly used index in severe weather forecasting is the Total Totals-Index (TT). This index is usually used if the lift index indicates a strong chance of severe weather (Miller 1972). In order to calculate this index, the vertical totals and cross totals must first be calculated. The Vertical Total (VT) measures vertical stability without regard for moisture and is

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found by subtracting the 500 mb temperature from the 850 mb temperature to get a difference (Ibid). The Cross Total (CT) is a measure of stability that includes moisture and is found by subtracting the 500 mb temperature from the 850 mb dew point temperature (Ibid). The TT index is then found by adding the two measures of stability:

],

where T (temperature) and Td (dew point) is measured in Celsius (NWS Louisville 2011). If the TT is below forty, thunderstorms are unlikely since the VT will be close to the dry adiabatic lapse rate, however if a CT value is greater than eighteen convection is possible (Ibid). Anything over forty is considered a chance for thunderstorms. The sixth thermodynamic index is the Deep Convective Index (DCI). This index is similar to the LI by attempting to combine the properties of equivalent potential temperature ( ) at 850 mb with instability (Barlow 1993). Theta E is the temperature a parcel of air would reach if all the water vapor in the parcel were to condense releasing latent heat and the parcel was brought adiabatically to a standard U.S. atmospheric pressure (Peppler 1988). The formula for the DCI is:

(
where, T and Td are measured in Celsius at the

values and the Lift Index (LI) is the measure of

stability from the surface to the 500 mb level (Barlow 1993). Values of thirty or higher indicate the potential for strong thunderstorms whereas values below indicate non-convective environments (Ibid). The seventh and last stability index is the Severe Weather Threat Index (SWEAT) developed by the U. S. Air Force in 1972 (Miller 1972). This index combines all severe weather dynamic and thermodynamic parameters into one equation. These factors include low-level
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moisture (the 850mb dew point) , instability (TT), lower and middle-level wind speeds (at 850mb and 500mb levels), and warm air advection (NWS Louisville 2011). The equation for SWEAT is:

where the first term is set to zero if the 850 mb dew point temperature in degrees Celsius is negative, TT is the Total Totals Index (if the TT is less than forty-nine, the second term is set to zero), are the wind speed at those pressure levels in knots and where s is the

sine of the difference in wind directions at 500 mb and 800mb (Peppler 1988). It is also important to note that the shear term, 125(s + 0.2), is set to zero if any of the following conditions are not met: (i) 850 mb wind direction is in the range of 130 to 250 degrees, (ii) the 500 mb wind direction is in the range of 210 to 310 degrees, (iii) the 500 mb wind direction to the 850 mb wind direction is greater than zero and (iv) both the 850 mb and 500 mb wind speeds are greater than or equal to fifteen knots (Ibid). SWEAT values from zero to three hundred indicate the potential for thunderstorms, where SWEAT values over three hundred indicate the possibility of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes (NWS Louisville 2011). It is also important to note that SWEAT values can change dramatically throughout the day, so low valued data can give a false impression of severe weather (Ibid). It is important to compare this index to others. In closing, these atmospheric thermodynamic stability indices are useful to help predict severe weather and thunderstorms. There are many more stability parameters used by a myriad of professionals. However, there is no correct indice to use over another in any certain situation but from these indexes meteorologists and climatologists can be better informed on how to answer questions such as when and where thunderstorms will develop.

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BIBLOGRAPHY Blanchard, David O., 1998: Assessing the Vertical Distribution of Convective Available Potential Energy. Weather Forecasting, 13, 870877. Colby, Frank P., 1984: Convective Inhibition as a Predictor of Convection during AVESESAME II. Monthly Weather Review, 112, 22392252. Davies, J.M., 1993: Hourly helicity, instability, and EHI in forecasting supercell tornadoes. The 17th Conference on Severe Local Storms. St. Louis, MO, American Meteorological Society, 107-111. Doswell, C.A., 2001: Severe Convective Stormsan overview. Severe Convective Storms Monograph, No. 50, American Meteorology Society, 1-26. Evans, J. S., 2003: Severe Thunderstorm Forecasting-- An Overview. Severe Weather Conference Presentation at North Carolina State University. Raleigh, NC, presented on 18th, Sept, 2003. Galway, J.G., 1956: The lifted index as a predictor of latent instability. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 37, 528-529. George, J.J., 1960: Weather Forecasting for Aeronautics. Academic Press, 673 pp. Markowski, P. M., and Y. P. Richardson, 2010: Mesoscale Meteorology in Midlatitudes-Advancing Weather and Climate Science. John Wiley and Sons, 33-34. Miller, R.C., 1972: Notes on analysis and severe storm forecasting procedures of the Air Force Global Weather Central. Tech. Rept. 200(R), Headquarters, Air Weather Service, USAF, 190 pp. Moncrieff, M.W., and J.S.A. Green, 1972: The propagation of steady convective overturning in shear. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological. Society, 98, 336-352. Peppler, Randy, 1988: A Review of Static Stability Indices and Related Thermodynamic Parameters. The Illinois State Water Survey Division, Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 2-6. Showalter, A.K., 1953: A stability index for thunderstorm forecasting. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 34, 250-252. Stensrud, David J., John V. Cortinas, Harold E. Brooks, 1997: Discriminating between Tornadic and Non-tornadic Thunderstorms Using Mesoscale Model Output. Journal of Weather Forecasting, 12, 613632. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/15200434(1997)012<0613:DBTANT>2.0.CO;2 The Louisville NWS, cited 2011: National Weather Service Louisville-Convective Parameters and Indices. [Available online at http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/soo/docu/indices.php.] The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign cited 2011: Helicity. [Available online at http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/svr/modl/fcst/params/hel.rxml.]
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