lapse rate useful?

Center_Mid

Center_Mid

Well-Known Member
Does anyone ever actually use the standard or adiabatic temperature lapse rate computation methods to figure out air stability? Is it just one of things that you learn for the IR and never use? My instructor has run thru IFR wx checks, but has yet to refer me to this stuff while we're looking at the DUATS or calling the FSS.
 
I use it to get a rough idea of what weather might appear given the stability. I also use it to estimate cloud bases, then compare to actual cloud bases to figure out stability.
 
I noticed you guys are from Seattle and Florida respectively.

I bet if the question were about freezing level and cloud bases, the tables would be turned.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in Florida you can have clear sky in the morning and (predictable) late afternoon thunderstorms on a daily basis. The adiabatic laspe rate is used to predict the TBs.
 
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