A Stüve diagram is one of four thermodynamic diagrams commonly used in weather analysis and forecasting. Usually, temperature and dew point data from radiosondes are plotted on these diagrams to allow calculations of convective stability or Convective Available Potential Energy. Wind barbs are often plotted at the side of the diagram to indicate the winds at different heights.

The Stüve diagram was developed circa 1927 by G. Stüve and quickly gained widespread acceptance in the United States. It has a simplicity in that it uses straight lines for the three primary variables: pressure, temperature and potential temperature. In doing so, however, it sacrifices the equal-area requirements (from the original Clausius-Clapeyron relation) that are satisfied in two of the other two diagrams (Skew-T and Tephigram). For practical purposes, this is not important. In the Stüve diagram, isotherms are straight and vertical, isobars are straight and horizontal and dry adiabats are also straight and have a 45 degree inclination to the left while moist adiabats are curved.

See also

• Thermodynamic diagrams
• Skew-T log-P diagram
• Emagram
• Tephigram

References

Thermodynamic Diagrams(offline in Dec 2007)

Thermodynamic Diagrams

Bibliography

• M K Yau and R.R. Rogers, Short Course in Cloud Physics, Third Edition, published by Butterworth-Heinemann, January 1, 1989, 304 pages. EAN 9780750632157 ISBN 0750632151
• J.V. Iribarne and W.L. Godson, Atmospheric Thermodynamics, Second Edition, published by D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland, 1981, 278 pages, ISBN-10: 9027712972, ISBN-13:978-902771297