Skip to main content
Log in

The taylor diagram (temperature against vapor pressure) for air mixtures

  • Published:
Archiv für Meteorologie, Geophysik und Bioklimatologie, Serie A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The diagram having temperature as one coordinate and partial pressure of aqueous vapor as the other was introduced byG. I. Taylor in his study of condensation due to mixing and is now called the Taylor diagram. The diagram fulfills almost exactly the property of mixtures, i. e., that mixtures of two samples of air are represented by the straight line joining the two points representing the samples, and that the relative distance from the point for either sample to the point for any mixture equals the proportion of the other sample in the mixture.

The psychrometric formula, which determines wet-bulb temperature on the diagram, is expressed in a new approximate form that is both convenient for calculation and accurate. It shows that the isotherms of wet-bulb temperature (or equivalent temperature) can be drawn straight with good accuracy. The isosteres are straight lines exactly.

By merely changing the designations of the axes to potential temperature and potential vapor pressure, the diagram is made to fulfill the property of mixtures even for air samples at different pressures.

Zusammenfassung

Das Diagramm, das die Temperatur als eine und den Partialdruck des Wasserdampfs als andere Koordinate verwendet, ist vonG. I. Taylor bei seiner Untersuchung über Mischungskondensation eingeführt worden und wird daher als Taylor-Diagramm bezeichnet. Es befriedigt fast exakt die Eigenschaft von Luftmischungen, daß nämlich Mischungen von zwei Luftproben durch die Gerade dargestellt werden, welche die zwei den Proben entsprechenden Punkte verbindet; dabei ist der relative Abstand des Punktes einer beliebigen Mischung vom Punkte der einen Probe dem Anteil der andern Probe in der Mischung gleich.

Die Psychrometerformel, durch die die Feuchttemperatur im Diagramm gegeben ist, wird in einer neuen Näherungsform dargestellt, die gleichzeitig hinreichend genau und für die Rechnung praktisch ist. Es ergibt sich dabei, daß die Isothermen der Feuchttemperatur (oder Äquivalenttemperatur) mit genügender Genauigkeit als Gerade gezogen werden können. Die Isosteren sind strenge Gerade.

Lediglich durch Änderung der Bezeichnungen der Achsen in dem Sinne, daß sie die potentielle Temperatur und den potentiellen Dampfdruck darstellen, kann das Diagramm auch zur Charakterisierung der Mischung von Luftproben von verschiedenem Druck verwendet werden.

Résumé

G. I. Taylor dans son étude sur la condensation par mélange a établi un diagramme dont les coordonnées sont la température et la pression de vapeur d'eau. Ce diagramme satisfait presque exactement la particularité de mélanges qui consiste dans le fait que des mélanges de deux masses d'air sont représentés par la droite reliant les deux points correspondants à l'état de ces deux masses; la distance relative d'un point quelconque de cette droite à l'un des points extrêmes est, dans un mélange donné, proportionnelle à la fraction de la masse dont l'état est représenté par l'autre borne du segment. La formule psychrométrique qui fournit la température du thermomètre humide dans le diagramme est mise sous une forme approximative simplifiée, exacte et paratique. Il s'ensuit que les isolignes de la température humide (ou équivalente) peuvent être représentées assez exactement par des droites. Les isostères sont des droites en toute rigueur. En introduisant simplement la température potentielle et la pression potentielle de vapeur, le diagramme peut également être employé pour caractériser le mélange de masses d'air de pressions différentes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Arakawa, H.: A new type of Rossby diagram. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,21, 111 (1940).

    Google Scholar 

  2. —: Potential vapor pressure and its applications. (In Japanese.) J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 2 ser.,25, 47–49; English abstract, 11 (1947).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Babaud, J.: Sur quelques raisonnements de thermodynamique à propos de la turbulence. La Météorologie, 4 sér.,1946, 170–176.

  4. Beers, N. R.: Meteorological thermodynamics and atmospheric statics. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Handbook of meteorology edited byF. A. Berry, Jr., E. Bollay, Norman R. Beers,1945, 313–409.

  5. Bezold, W. v.: Zur Thermodynamik der Atmosphaere. Dritte Mitt.: Luftmischung, Wolken- und Niederschlagsbildung. S. B. preuss. Akad. Wiss.,1890, 355–390. — Translation, “On the thermo-dynamics of the atmosphere. (Third communication),” in “The mechanics of the earth's atmosphere. A collection of translations byCleveland Abbe”, Smithson. Misc. Coll.,34, art. 10, 257–288 (1891).

  6. Bleeker, W.: A diagram for obtaining in a simple manner different humidity elements and its use in daily synoptic work. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,20, 325–329 (1939).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Brunt, David: The adiabatic lapse-rate for dry and saturated air. Quart. J. R. Meteor. Soc.,59, 351–360 (1933).

    Google Scholar 

  8. —.: Condensation by mixing Ibid.,61, 213–216 (1935).

    Google Scholar 

  9. —: Physical and dynamical meteorology, 2 edition. Cambridge, University Press (1939).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Byers, H. R.: On the thermodynamic interpretation of isentropic charts. Mon. Wea. Rev.,66, 63–68 (1938).

    Google Scholar 

  11. —: General meteorology. New York, McGraw-Hill Book. Co., 1944.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Carrier, W. H.: Rational psychrometric formulae, their relation to the problems of meteorology and of air conditioning Trans. Amer. Soc. Mech. Engrs,33, 1005–1053 (1911).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Carrier, W. H., andC. O. Mackey: A review of existing psychrometric data in relation to practical engineering problems Ibid.,59, 33–47 (1937).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Craig, R. A.: Measurements of temperature and humidity in the lowest 1000 feet of the atmosphere over Massachusetts Bay. Pap. phys. Ocean. Meteor., Mass. Inst. Tech. & Woods Hole ocean. Instn, 10, no. 1. (1946).

  15. Dorsey, N. E.: Properties of ordinary water-substance in all its phases: water-vapor, water, and all the ices. New York, Reinhold Publishing Corp., American Chemical Society Monograph Series,81, (1940).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Emmons, G.: Vertical distributions of temperature and humidity over the ocean between Nantucket and New Jersey. Pap. phys. Ocean. Meteor., Mass. Inst. Tech. & Woods Hole ocean. Instn.,10, no. 3 (1947).

  17. Ertel, H.: Der vertikale Turbulenz-Wärmestrom in der Atmosphäre. Meteorol. Z.,59, 250–253 (1942).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Harrison, L. P.: A measure of atmosphere stability for the unsaturated state with some applications to weather analysis. Abstract. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,13, 223–224 (1932).

    Google Scholar 

  19. —: Tables (in millibars) of the “pressure of saturated aqueous vapor over water” at temperatures from 0° to −50° C. Mon. Wea. Rev.,62, 247–248 (1934).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Helland-Hansen, Bj.: Nogen hydrografiske metoder. Forh. skand. naturf. Möte,1916, 357–359.

  21. Holmboe, J., G. E. Forsythe andW. Gustin: Dynamic meteorology. New York, John Wiley and Sons, 1945.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Hutton, J.: The theory of rain. Trans. roy Soc. Edinburgh,1, part II, I, 41–86 (1788).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Linke, F.: Meteorologisches Taschenbuch, 1. Ausgabe. Leipzig. Akademische Verlagsges. m. b. H., 1931.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Linke, F.: Meteorologisches Taschenbuch, Idem, 4. Ausgabe,, 1939.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Mollier, R.: Ein neues Diagramm für Dampfluftgemische., Z. Ver. dtsch. Ing.,67, 869–872 (1923).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Montgomery, R. B.: Over-water refraction of 10 cm electromagnetic radiation. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,28, 1–8 (1947).

    Google Scholar 

  27. —: Viscosity and thermal conductivity of air and diffusivity of water vapor in air. J. Meteor.,4, 193–196 (1947).

    Google Scholar 

  28. —: Vertical eddy flux of heat in the atmosphere Ibid.,5, 265–274 (1948).

    Google Scholar 

  29. —: Wet-bulb temperature — a correction Ibid.,6, 66 (1949).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Montgomery, R. B., andA. F. Spilhaus: Examples and outline of certain modifications in upper-air analysis. J. Aero. Sci.,8, 276–283 (1941).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Normand, C. W. B.: Wet-bulb temperatures and the thermodynamics of the air. Mem. Indian meteor. Dep.,23, part I, 1–22 (1921).

    Google Scholar 

  32. Osborne, N. S., H. F. Stimson andD. C. Ginnings: Measurements of heat capacity and heat of vaporization of water in the range 0° to 100°C. J. Res. nat. Bur. Stand.,23, 197–260 (1939).

    Google Scholar 

  33. Panofsky, H. A.: Radiative cooling in the lowest layers of an atmosphere warmer than the ground. J. Meteor.,4, 35–37 (1947).

    Google Scholar 

  34. Petterssen, Sverre: Weather analysis and forecasting, a textbook on synoptic meteorology. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1940.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Richardson, L. F.: Atmospheric stirring measured by precipitation. Proc. roy. Soc. London, ser A,96, 9–18 (1919).

    Google Scholar 

  36. Rossby, C. G.: Thermodynamics applied to air mass analysis. Mass. Inst. Tech. meteor. Pap.,1, no. 3 (1932).

  37. Smithsonian Institution: Smithsonian meteorological tables, 5 edition. Smithson. Misc. Coll.,86 (1931).

  38. Sverdrup, H. U., M. W. Johnson andR. H. Fleming: The oceans, their physics, chemistry, and general biology. New York, Prentice-Hall, 1942.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Taylor, G. I.: The formation of fog and mist. Quart. J. R. Meteor. Soc.,43, 241–268 (1917).

    Google Scholar 

  40. Whipple F. J. W.: The wet-and-dry-bulb hygrometer: the relation to theory of the experimental researches of Awbery and Griffiths. Proc. Phys. Soc., London,45, 307–319 (1933).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

With 4 figures.

Contribution No. 482.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Montgomery, R.B. The taylor diagram (temperature against vapor pressure) for air mixtures. Arch. Met. Geoph. Biokl. A. 2, 163–183 (1950). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02247913

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02247913

Keywords

Navigation