Isentropic Analysis: Disadvantages
- The temporal continuity of isentropic surfaces are disrupted by diabatic heating/cooling; diabatic heating (cooling) causes isentropic surfaces to move downward (upward)
- Isentropic surfaces are vertical in regions of neutral lapse rates (i.e., ? = ?d) and “fold” in regions of superadiabatic lapse rates (i.e., ? > ?d)
- Forecaster must choose 1-2 isentropic surfaces to analyze in lower troposphere, not pre-selected like pressure surfaces.
- Construct an isentropic cross section along with isohumes normal to the baroclinic zone and choose an isentropic surface – but stay out of that nasty boundary layer!