Low-level inversions over the tropical Pacific - thermodynamic structure of the boundary layer and the above-inversion moisture structure

Abstract

Low-level inversions of insufficient strength to inhibit deep convection are found to be present in more than 50% of the soundings. These inversions appear to play a critical role in regulating convective activity over the central and eastern Pacific. The tops of the inversions have an average pressure level of approximately 800 mb and show little latitudinal or longitudinal variation. The majority of the inversion soundings (approximately 70%) have a reversal in the mixing ratio profile (q-reversal) above the inversion that appears as a dry layer at the top of the inversion layer capped by a relatively moist layer. This moist layer is on the average 2 g kg-1 more moist than the corresponding soundings that have no q-reversal. -from Authors