The Release of Latent Heat in Tropical Storms Due to the Fall-Out of Sea-Salt Particles

Abstract

Observations of atmospheric sea salt in a hurricane are used to estimate the weight of salt in the clear air at cloud levels. These quantities are then used to determine the rate of release of heat in the moist air layers below, due to condensation on this salt as it falls from the relatively dry air at higher levels. This rate is found adequate to alter significantly the distribution of heat and water vapor in the cloud-layer air and to explain much of the observed potential temperature increase in the lower air converging upon the central regions of hurricanes.