What Is 1000-500 Millibar Thickness?
The vertical distance between two pressure levels. Thicker layers mean warmer air, so it works like an average temperature for the lower half of the atmosphere. In technical terms: The geopotential height difference between the 1000 and 500 hPa surfaces, proportional to the layer-mean virtual temperature via the hypsometric equation; the 5400 m contour is a traditional rough rain/snow discriminator in winter.
Also called: Thickness, 1000-500 mb Thickness
1000-500 Millibar Thickness In Plain English
The vertical distance between two pressure levels. Thicker layers mean warmer air, so it works like an average temperature for the lower half of the atmosphere.
The Technical Definition
The geopotential height difference between the 1000 and 500 hPa surfaces, proportional to the layer-mean virtual temperature via the hypsometric equation; the 5400 m contour is a traditional rough rain/snow discriminator in winter.
