How Close Are Leading Tropical Tropospheric Temperature Perturbations to Those under Convective Quasi Equilibrium?

Abstract In convective quasi-equilibrium theory, tropical tropospheric temperature perturbations are expected to follow vertical profiles constrained by convection, referred as A-profiles here, often approximated of moist adiabats. Differences between an idealized A-profile based on moist-static energy conservation and derived from entraining nonentraining parcel computations modest under conditions—deep convection mostly occurs when the lower troposphere is close saturation, thus minimizing impact entrainment temperature. Simple calculations with pseudoadiabatic about observed profile provide useful baseline A-profiles. The first EOF mode (TEOF1) ERA-Interim AIRS retrievals below level neutral buoyancy (LNB) compared these TEOF1 high LNB, typically above 400 hPa, yield spatial correlation (∼0.9) A-profiles, indicating that tend be consistent assumption where environment favorable deep convection. Lower tends occur in regions low climatological less Excluding LNB significantly increases mean correlation. near exhibit negative deviations A-profiles—the cold-top phenomenon—with greater deviation for higher LNB. correlation, shows S-like shape beneath 600 usually accompanied a drier troposphere. These findings robust across wide range time scales daily monthly, although explained variance decrease short scales.