Articles | Volume 20, issue 24
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-15585-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-15585-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
15 Dec 2020
Research article |
| 15 Dec 2020
| 15 Dec 2020
Reappraising the appropriate calculation of a common meteorological quantity: potential temperature
Manuel Baumgartner
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Zentrum für Datenverarbeitung, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
Institute for Atmospheric Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
Ralf Weigel
Institute for Atmospheric Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
Allan H. Harvey
Applied Chemicals and Materials Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO, USA
Felix Plöger
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute of Energy and Climate Research (IEK-7), Jülich, Germany
Institute for Atmospheric and Environmental Research, University of
Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
Ulrich Achatz
Institut für Atmosphäre und Umwelt, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Peter Spichtinger
Institute for Atmospheric Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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- A drone-based sampling platform for vertically resolved chemical characterization of aerosol particles using chemical ionization mass spectrometry L. Håkansson et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-3083-2026
- Climate-driven machine learning models for predicting asphalt pavement surface temperature for aging assessments F. Ghasemi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engappai.2026.113897
- CFD Assessment of Near-Surface Dust Release and Transport in Near-Field Flows Under Different Atmospheric Stability Conditions P. Sun et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17030303
- Algae’s potential as a bio-mass source for bio-fuel production: MLR vs. ANN models analyses W. de Queiróz Lamas https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2025.134853
- Characterization of refractory aerosol particles collected in the tropical upper troposphere–lower stratosphere (UTLS) within the Asian tropopause aerosol layer (ATAL) M. Ebert et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-4771-2024
- Assimilating MWTS-2, ATMS, and AMSU-A Radiances for Rainfall Forecast in an Operational East African NWP System P. Othoo et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13351-025-5035-z
- In situ observation of new particle formation (NPF) in the tropical tropopause layer of the 2017 Asian monsoon anticyclone – Part 1: Summary of StratoClim results R. Weigel et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-11689-2021
- CO₂-based risk matrix for indoor air quality management in naturally ventilated educational sector buildings in Germany S. Nehr et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indenv.2026.100176
- The Asian tropopause aerosol layer within the 2017 monsoon anticyclone: microphysical properties derived from aircraft-borne in situ measurements C. Mahnke et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-15259-2021
- Compound Wind and Precipitation Extremes – Atmospheric Conditions and SVM Predictions for Northern Southeast Asia Coastal Cities D. Lestari et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41748-026-01226-z
- Advancing railway infrastructure maintenance: Thermodynamic parameter inversion of ballast bed and feasibility assessment of fouling detection via infrared thermography (IRT) X. Liang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infrared.2024.105398
- The Relationship between Vertical Kinematic Eddy Heat Flux, Air Temperature and Turbulent Kinetic Energy in Atmospheric Boundary Layer: Baghdad City N. Mohammed https://doi.org/10.23851/mjs.v35i1.1420
- Relative humidity over ice as a key variable for Northern Hemisphere midlatitude tropopause inversion layers D. Köhler et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-10055-2024
- Observing and identifying fouled ballast bed: On-site testing with infrared thermography (IRT) and uncovering thermodynamic transfer mechanisms within the ballast bed X. Liang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ndteint.2024.103168
- Thermodynamic concepts used in physical oceanography T. McDougall https://doi.org/10.5194/os-22-923-2026
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 03 Jun 2026
Short summary
The potential temperature is routinely used in atmospheric science. We review its derivation and suggest a new potential temperature, based on a temperature-dependent parameterization of the dry air's specific heat capacity. Moreover, we compare the new potential temperature to the common one and discuss the differences which become more important at higher altitudes. Finally, we indicate some consequences of using the new potential temperature in typical applications.
The potential temperature is routinely used in atmospheric science. We review its derivation and...
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