Two data sets (OTREC and PREDICT) and the European Center operational model are used to study convection. Vertically integrated moisture convergence is taken to be a proxy for convection. The interplay between the thermodynamic parameters is examined for weak and strong convection. It is found that for strong convection saturation fraction anti-correlates with instability index and DCIN in a similar manner for all analyzed regions of PREDICT and OTREC. The European Center model is used to look at the composite diurnal cycles of strong and weak convection. As convection increases, saturation fraction increases while instability index and DCIN decrease as in OTREC and PREDICT. The boundary layer and free troposphere thus both play an important role in convection development.

The systematic analysis of convection and the environment is performed for two field projects, OTREC and PREDICT by implementing 3DVAR on drospondes data sets. Vertically integrated moisture convergence is taken to be a proxy for convection. The interplay between the thermodynamic parameters is examined for three different stages of convection: strong convection, medium to weak and weak to null convection. It is found that for strong convection saturation fraction anti-correlates with instability index and DCIN in a similar manner for all analyzed regions of PREDICT and OTREC, while the differences in the environment become more pronounced as we move towards weak and null convection. ECMWF operational model is used to look at the time evolution of convection. As convection increases, saturation fraction increases while instability index and DCIN decrease. The boundary layer and free troposphere both play an important role in convection development in OTREC and PREDICT regions.