Tropical Wave (Cross) Winds/Equivalent Potential Temperature
Notes:
Vertical cross section of winds (barbs/KT) and equivalent potential temperature (degrees K).
In this cross section, a thermal ridge is clearly evident as the equivalent potential temperatures sharply increase as one approaches the trough axis, and rapidly decrease as one moves away from the center. The thermal ridge extends upward into the middle atmosphere to approximately 600/500 hPa. Note the temperature maximum of 351K at the surface, and the maximum of 345-348K at 850 hPa.
This shows the warm core characteristics of this perturbation as well as a dependence on the latent heat of condensation for its survival.