CAPE
CAPE is the abbreviation for Convective Available Potential Energy. It describes the amount of energy available to a rising air parcel in the atmosphere when it can move freely. The higher the CAPE value, the more strongly the air can rise and the greater the potential for thunderstorm formation.
CAPE is the abbreviation for Convective Available Potential Energy. It describes the amount of energy available to a rising air parcel in the atmosphere when it can move freely. The higher the CAPE value, the more strongly the air can rise and the greater the potential for thunderstorm formation.
CAPE arises when warm and moist air lies near the ground with cooler layers of air above it. When the air at the surface is lifted, it expands and cools in the process. If it remains warmer than the surrounding air, it continues to rise. This upward motion releases energy, which is expressed in the CAPE value.
A small CAPE value indicates a stable atmosphere in which hardly any updrafts form. With high values, on the other hand, strong thunderstorms, hail, or even tornadoes can occur. Meteorologists therefore use CAPE to assess the risk of thunderstorms and severe weather.
Typical CAPE values range between 0 and 2000 joules per kilogram, and in extreme weather situations significantly higher.