******************************************************************************* *** HELP FILE FOR PROGRAM calcsound.f *** ******************************************************************************* This program reads the input file "sounding", which can be created using the program "readsound.f", and calculates the temperatures and virtual temperatures of parcels lifted reversibly and also pseudo-adiabatically from each level (but without ice processes). It also calculates the temperatures and virtual temperatures of parcels that are first saturated by a wet bulb process and then descend pseudo-adiabatically to the surface; this is done for each level in the sounding. The Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE), Positive Area (PA) and Negative Area (NA) are calculated for parcel ascent from each level, for both reversible and pseudo-adiabatic processes, and the Downdraft Convective Available Potential Energy (DCAPE) is calculated for the downdraft process described above. Output is directed to the output file "calcsound.out" and to an NCAR graphics file. The output file "calcsound.out" contains the values of CAPE, PA, NA and DCAPE, while the NCAR graphics file contains two contour plots showing, the difference between the virtual temperatures (C) of reversibly and pseudo-adiabatically lifted parcels, respectively, as a function of the pressure level to which the parcel is lifted (ordinate) and the parcel origin pressure (abscissa). When the pressure is greater than the origin pressure (on the second graph only), the quantity graphed is the buoyancy (degrees C) of air that has first been saturated by the wet bulb process at its origin level, and then descends pseudo-adiabatically. If the user does not have NCAR graphics, other contouring routines can be substituted for the NCAR graphics calls toward the end of the program. This program needs only to be compiled and run; no input values other than the input sounding need be supplied.