15C.3
**Moisture interchange between clouds and environment in a tropical atmosphere
Carlos Lopez-Carrillo, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, NM
In this work, we use data collected during the intensive operation period of TOGA-COARE to study, on a case-by-case basis, the nature of moisture interchange between cloud systems and their environment. For our ten-case sample, we have found a correlation between cloud-top height and mid-level moisture. We also argue that it is mid-level moisture which is controlling the height of the clouds and not vice-versa. Furthermore, by using the stochastic mixing model, Raymond and Blyth (1992), we obtained evidence that entrainment is a plausible mechanism to explain how mid-level moisture exercises such a control.
Session 15C, Convective processes I (Parallel with Sessions 15A and 15B)
Friday, 26 May 2000, 3:30 PM-5:30 PM
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