Sounding plotted on skew-T diagram

Question

This sounding comes from the July 14, 2002 severe thunderstorm outbreak in southeast Arizona.

Find the equilibrium level (EL) for both lifted and heated surface parcels. Enter your answers in the text boxes below, then click Done.


EL (lifted) = hPa   

Answer: about 170 hPa
A lifted parcel will rise to the LCL before becoming saturated. After that, its ascent follows a saturation adiabat. The level where the saturation adiabat first crosses the temperature profile marks the LFC. The second (upper) level where the saturation adiabat crosses the temperature profile marks the EL.

EL (heated) = hPa   

Answer: about 130 hPa
A heated parcel will rise to the CCL before becoming both saturated and buoyant. After that, its ascent follows a saturation adiabat. It reaches the EL when the saturation adiabat crosses the temperature profile.
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