ESS227
Prof. Jin-Yi Yu
Potential Temperature (
q
)
q
The potential temperature of an air parcel is defined as the the
temperature the parcel would have if it were moved
adiabatically from its existing pressure and temperature to a
standard pressure P
0
(generally taken as 1000mb).
q
= potential temperature
T = original temperature
P = original pressure
P
0
= standard pressure = 1000 mb
R = gas constant = R
d
= 287 J deg
-1
kg
-1
C
p
= specific heat = 1004 J deg
-1
kg
-1
R/C
p
= 0.286