Originally Posted by FluidFlow
I was assuming there would be areas in the Cb that were above saturated as the humid tropical air provides the energy source to power the storm.
The energy source is the temperature difference between the ascending air and its surroundings. As the rising air expands and cools, the amount of water vapour it can contain reduces. Condensation starts when the relative humidity reaches 100%. Condensation releases heat which reduces the cooling due to expansion and thereby adds to the 'power of the storm'. Condensation continues up the cloud top while relative humidity remains 100%. The rate of change of temperature (the so-called wet-adiabatic) and hence the rate of condensation is defined by the vertical speed only (1). If the 'power of the storm' increases with altitude, it is due to the temperature gradient in the surrounding atmosphere becoming more negative than that of the ascending air, not something in the process of convection/condensation in the cloud.
Re "leave Pstag/Pstatic the same": If you leave TAS the same, Pstag/Pstatic changes as per my post, and if you also leave OAT the same, TAT reduces by 3.5C.
Originally Posted by Fluidflow
measuring data from one G value atmosphere and calculating others using a different G gives incompatible results
The three parameters that the ADIRU sees (pitot and static pressures and TAT) are entirely independent. In what way would results calculated from them be mutually 'incompatible'?
regards,
HN39
(1) At any given temperature