Thickness Ridge Cloudiness - Key Parameters

by ZAMG and DHMZ


Equivalent thickness and Thermal front parameter (TFP)

11 April 2008/06.00 UTC - Meteosat 9 IR10.8 image; blue: thermal front parameter (TFP), green: equivalent thickness 500/850 hPa
13 January 2008/00.00 UTC - Meteosat 9 IR10.8 image; blue: thermal front parameter (TFP), green: equivalent thickness 500/850 hPa
09 January 2008/12.00 UTC - Meteosat 9 IR10.8 image; blue: thermal front parameter (TFP), green: equivalent thickness 500/850 hPa

In all three cases THR Cloudiness is found within a ridge of equivalent thickness. In the 13th January case the equivalent thickness ridge is very pronounced and one can also nicely recognize Cold and Warm front Cloud bands. In 9th January case frontal cloudiness is very weak. The first example of 11th of April one can declare as "front-disconnected" type and the other ones as "front-connected" types but without intensive convection because these are winter cases.

Equivalent potential temperature at 850 hPa

11 April 2008/06.00 UTC - Meteosat 9 IR10.8 image; magenta: equivalent potential temperature 850 hPa
13 January 2008/00.00 UTC - Meteosat 9 IR10.8 image; magenta: equivalent potential temperature 850 hPa
09 January 2008/12.00 UTC - Meteosat 9 IR10.8 image; magenta: equivalent potential temperature 850 hPa

Height Contours at 1000 hPa and 500 hPa

11 April 2008/06.00 UTC - Meteosat 9 IR10.8 image; magenta: height contours 1000 hPa, cyan: height contours 500 hPa
13 January 2008/00.00 UTC - Meteosat 9 IR10.8 image; magenta: height contours 1000 hPa, cyan: height contours 500 hPa
09 January 2008/12.00 UTC - Meteosat 9 IR10.8 image; magenta: height contours 1000 hPa, cyan: height contours 500 hPa

Temperature advection (TA) at 700 hPa

11 April 2008/06.00 UTC - Meteosat 9 IR10.8 image; red dashed: temperature advection - CA 700 hPa, red solid: temperature advection - WA 700 hPa
13 January 2008/00.00 UTC - Meteosat 9 IR10.8 image; red dashed: temperature advection - CA 700 hPa, red solid: temperature advection - WA 700 hPa
09 January 2008/12.00 UTC - Meteosat 9 IR10.8 image; red dashed: temperature advection - CA 700 hPa, red solid: temperature advection - WA 700 hPa

Showalter index

11 April 2008/06.00 UTC - Meteosat 9 IR10.8 image; yellow: Showalter index 500/850 hPa
13 January 2008/00.00 UTC - Meteosat 9 IR10.8 image; yellow: Showalter index 500/850 hPa
09 January 2008/12.00 UTC - Meteosat 9 IR10.8 image; yellow: Showalter index 500/850 hPa

Whereas in the first case the values of Showalter index are nicely related to the cloudiness within the Thickness Ridge, in the last two examples (winter cases) the values of Showalter index are lower than 3, but for the whole frontal region and not specifically for the THR clouds.

Menu Of Thickness Ridge Cloudiness
Meteorological Physical Background
Typical Appearance In Vertical Cross Sections