Description
Return vertical upward-flux divergence and temperature tendency.
Atmospheric optical and radiation quantities distinguish spectral density, integrated flux, solid-angle response and reporting codes. A local attenuation factor, bin contribution or coverage bound requires compatible geometry and definitions rather than establishing a complete radiative transfer or observed cloud state.
Return vertical upward-flux divergence and temperature tendency.
When to use this tool
Use Radiative Cooling Flux Divergence Term when checking the stated optical, radiometric, cloud-code or coverage convention.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter topUpwardFlux, bottomUpwardFlux, density, heatCapacity, thickness. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read fluxDivergence, temperatureTendency. Use the output convention below.
Return vertical upward-flux divergence and temperature tendency. Require density, specific heat and thickness > 0; divergence = (topFlux-bottomFlux)/thickness, tendency = -divergence/(density*heatCapacity).1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| topUpwardFlux | Top Upward Flux | Required. Finite number. |
| bottomUpwardFlux | Bottom Upward Flux | Required. Finite number. |
| density | Supplied physical density with compatible mass/volume units under the stated model. | Required. Finite number; strictly above 0. |
| heatCapacity | Heat Capacity | Required. Finite number; strictly above 0. |
| thickness | Thickness | Required. Finite number; strictly above 0. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| fluxDivergence | Flux Divergence | Required. Finite number. |
| temperatureTendency | Temperature Tendency | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"topUpwardFlux": 150,
"bottomUpwardFlux": 100,
"density": 1,
"heatCapacity": 1000,
"thickness": 100
},
"output": {
"fluxDivergence": 0.5,
"temperatureTendency": -0.0005
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Compatible SI inputs give K/s and positive outward divergence cools; other fluxes, latent heating and actual atmospheric profiles are omitted.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use the source-specific observation code table and an appropriate calibrated spectral/atmospheric model for actual cloud or radiative interpretation.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Atmospheric Emissivity Blackbody Flux Term
Return gray-emitter Stefan-Boltzmann flux.
- Radiometer Bandwidth Normalization
Return mean signal per bandwidth and a reference-bandwidth equivalent.