Definition of a moist-air entropy potential temperature. Application to FIRE-I data flights

Abstract

A moist entropy potential temperature -- denoted by ${\theta}_{s}$ -- is defined analytically in terms of the specific entropy for moist air. The expression for ${\theta}_{s}$ is valid for a general mixing of dry air, water vapour and possible condensed water species. It verifies the same conservative properties as the moist entropy, even for varying dry air or total water content. The moist formulation for ${\theta}_{s}$ is equal to the dry formulation $\theta$ if dry air is considered and it verifies new properties valid for the moist air cases, both saturated or under-saturated ones. Exact and approximate versions of ${\theta}_{s}$ are evaluated for several Stratocumulus cases, in particular by using the aircraft observations FIRE-I experiment data sets. It appears that there is no (or small) jump in ${\theta}_{s}$ at the top of the PBL. The mixing in moist entropy is almost complete in the PBL, with the same values observed in the clear air and the cloudy regions, including the very top of the entrainment region. The Randall-Deardorff CTEI analysis may be interpreted as a mixing in moist entropy criterion. The iso-${\theta}_{s}$ lines are plotted on skew $T$-$\ln(p)$ and conserved variable diagrams. All these properties could suggest some hints on the use of moist entropy (or ${\theta}_{s}$) in cloud modelling or in mixing processes, with the marine Stratocumulus considered as a paradigm of moist turbulence.