The Formation of Thermals on the Ground

TL;DR

This paper presents a method to visualize thermals in the lower atmosphere using transformed temperature and humidity data from boundary layer measurement masts, revealing detailed structures like updrafts and air bubbles.

Contribution

It introduces a data transformation technique to visualize thermals from boundary layer measurements, providing new insights into atmospheric convection patterns.

Findings

Visualization of thermals and air bubbles in the lower atmosphere

Identification of ground detaching and falling air bubbles

Detailed cross-sections of atmospheric thermals

Abstract

The measurement data from the boundary layer measurement masts in Hamburg-Billwerder (Germany) and Hyytiala (Finland) make thermals visible. For this, the temperature and humidity data must first be transformed to be independent of altitude. The subsequent visualisation of this data shows an impressive cross-section of the lower atmosphere with individual updrafts, but also with air bubbles detaching from the ground or falling from higher altitudes.