Tropical Weather and the Myth of ‘Diabatic Heating’

This talk was recorded and can be seen HERE

Kerry Emanuel, Lorenz Center, MIT  

Abstract: The notion that latent heat release in cumulus clouds is the primary driver of weather systems in the tropics dates back to the work of James Pollard Espy in 1841 and even today pervades research papers and textbooks. In this talk, I will show compelling evidence that this view is at the very least misleading and is responsible not only for bad conceptual thinking about the tropics but for dead-end theories such as CISK and most extant theories of tropical intraseasonal variability. Using theory, models, and observations I will attempt to perform an exorcism of the idea of latent heating is a driver of anything in the tropics and replace it with a different and simpler conceptual framework.

Webinar link: https://psu.zoom.us/j/99932770513?pwd=RG5sNkpUVVRHYWJGbm9LdDBBN1FCUT09