Gross moist stability variations, the vertical structure of convection and growth of moisture anomalies

The vertical structure of deep convection is highly variable geographically and temporally and strongly influences interactions with larger-scale circulations. The influence of this vertical structure on circulations can be described using the gross moist stability. We examine geographic variability in the vertical structure of convection and the gross moist stability using satellite data and reanalysis.

We also examine temporal variability and show that gross moist stability variations are related to the growth and decay of moisture anomalies in satellite datasets. Finally, we examine the extent to which growth and decay in these datasets and in reanalysis happens via diabatic sources, horizontal advection or vertical advection.