Virtual Temperature Correction
Compute exact ideal moist-air virtual temperature with vapor and suspended-liquid specific mass fractions relative to total mixture; differs from vapor mixing-ratio approximations and excludes ice unless caller independently models it.
Description
Virtual temperature expresses the density effect of water vapor and suspended liquid as an equivalent dry-air temperature.
Virtual temperature expresses the density effect of water vapor and suspended liquid as an equivalent dry-air temperature. Water vapor raises this temperature relative to dry air, whereas liquid loading reduces it.1
Compute exact ideal moist-air virtual temperature with vapor and suspended-liquid specific mass fractions relative to total mixture; differs from vapor mixing-ratio approximations and excludes ice unless caller independently models it.
When to use Virtual Temperature Correction
Use this tool to compute exact ideal moist-air virtual temperature with vapor and suspended-liquid specific mass fractions relative to total mixture; differs from vapor mixing-ratio approximations and excludes ice unless caller independently models it.
Prepare the climate observations and any independently chosen thresholds or model parameters. Confirm units, daily coverage, time order and the intended seasonal window.
How to use Virtual Temperature Correction and understand its results
- Prepare the climate observations and any independently chosen thresholds or model parameters. Confirm units, daily coverage, time order and the intended seasonal window.
- Enter temperaturesK, waterVaporSpecificMassFractions, liquidWaterSpecificMassFractions, dryToVaporGasConstantRatio using the field table and calculation rules, then run the tool.
- Read virtualTemperaturesK. The explanation below defines the units, signs, ordering and any flags or placeholder values.
- If the tool reports an input issue, correct the values and run it again. Apply the stated assumptions when interpreting a successfully returned result.
| Input field | Meaning | Value type; see rules below | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| temperaturesK | Temperatures k | list of number | Required |
| waterVaporSpecificMassFractions | Water vapor specific mass fractions | list of number | Required |
| liquidWaterSpecificMassFractions | Liquid water specific mass fractions | list of number | Required |
| dryToVaporGasConstantRatio | Dry to vapor gas constant ratio | number | Required |
Supply aligned positive temperatures in kelvin, vapor and liquid mass fractions between zero and one, and a positive dry-air/water-vapor gas-constant ratio below one. The vapor and liquid fractions must sum to less than one at each observation. The tool applies the displayed mixture relation to each row and returns virtual temperatures in kelvin. Fractions refer to total mixture mass, not water-to-dry-air mixing ratios.
Paired lists must be nonempty and have equal lengths.
Tv = T[1 + (1/ε − 1)q − l], where ε = Rd/Rv Units, indexing, boundary conditions and exceptional cases are defined in the calculation rules above.
| Output field | Meaning | Value type |
|---|---|---|
| virtualTemperaturesK | Virtual temperatures k | list of number |
{
"input": {
"temperaturesK": [
300
],
"waterVaporSpecificMassFractions": [
0.01
],
"liquidWaterSpecificMassFractions": [
0.001
],
"dryToVaporGasConstantRatio": 0.5
},
"output": {
"virtualTemperaturesK": [
302.70000000000005
]
}
}Limitations and assumptions
Ice loading is absent, and the calculation assumes the supplied mixture fractions and constant ratio are appropriate. It does not derive humidity from relative humidity or dew point, nor replace a full moist equation of state.
Numeric inputs and returned numeric values must be finite; an unrepresentable returned value produces an error. Numeric lists are limited to 100,000 entries; the rules above may require smaller limits. Missing required fields, extra fields, wrong value types and violations of the calculation rules are input errors.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use Potential Temperature Poisson: Compute pressure-normalized dry potential-temperature sounding under caller R/cp/reference pressure; no moisture normalization or actual measured parcel temperature at reference pressure. For a complementary task, use CAPE Convective Available Potential Energy: Integrate positive portions of caller precomputed virtual parcel/environment buoyancy in observed height window, resolving each linear zero crossing; no hidden parcel lift, full sounding CAPE outside coverage or storm safety.
References
-
Virtual Temperature Correction — tool.io
Similar or alternative tools
- Potential Temperature Poisson
Compute pressure-normalized dry potential-temperature sounding under caller R/cp/reference pressure; no moisture normalization or actual measured parcel temperature at reference pressure.
- CAPE Convective Available Potential Energy
Integrate positive portions of caller precomputed virtual parcel/environment buoyancy in observed height window, resolving each linear zero crossing; no hidden parcel lift, full sounding CAPE outside coverage or storm safety.