• 14 parts
  • Checked October 2026

Skew T Diagram Labeled

A skew-T log-P chart with one made-up sounding, and every line and level named.

Skew T Diagram Labeled

Name Date

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
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Write the name of each numbered part.Answer key

  1. Isobars
  2. Isotherms
  3. Dry adiabats
  4. Moist adiabats
  5. Mixing ratio lines
  6. Temperature trace
  7. Dew point trace
  8. Wind barbs
  9. Lifting condensation level (LCL)
  10. Level of free convection (LFC)
  11. Equilibrium level (EL)
  12. CAPE
  13. CIN
  14. Inversion

Computed and drawn for this site by script on 2026-10-03. Licence: own work.

Each numbered ring is a button. Use the arrow keys to move between them and Enter to choose. Names are read out in Study, and once a part is answered.

Next step Next: the layers of the atmosphere

All 14 parts on the diagram

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The five sets of lines 5

  1. Isobars Lines of equal pressure. They are level, and equal steps of pressure sit farther apart toward the top.
  2. Isotherms Lines of equal temperature, skewed 45 degrees to the right.
  3. Dry adiabats The cooling rate of rising air that is not saturated.
  4. Moist adiabats The cooling rate of rising air that is saturated.
  5. Mixing ratio lines Lines of equal mixing ratio. It counts water vapor in grams per kilogram of dry air.

On the sounding 9

  1. Temperature trace The air temperature the balloon measured at each height.
  2. Dew point trace The dew point at each height. The closer it runs to the temperature, the more humid the air.
  3. Wind barbs Wind direction and speed at each height.
  4. Lifting condensation level (LCL) Where the lifted parcel of air becomes saturated.
  5. Level of free convection (LFC) Where the parcel becomes warmer than the air around it.
  6. Equilibrium level (EL) Where the rising parcel is as cold as the air around it.
  7. CAPE The area where the parcel is warmer than the air around it. CAPE stands for convective available potential energy.
  8. CIN The area where the parcel is colder than the air around it. CIN stands for convective inhibition.
  9. Inversion A layer where the temperature rises with height.

How this list was compiled: Every name and definition checked on 2026-10-03 in two independent sources. (1) NOAA National Weather Service, JetStream: Skew-T Log-P Diagrams, https://www.noaa.gov/jetstream/upperair/skew-t-log-p-diagrams (temperature lines at 45 degrees, level pressure lines on a logarithmic scale, dry adiabats, moist or saturated adiabats, mixing ratio in grams per kilogram, the wind staff); Skew-T Plots, https://www.noaa.gov/jetstream/upperair/skew-t-plots (the temperature and dew point lines, a temperature inversion, wind speed and direction); Severe Weather, https://www.noaa.gov/jetstream/upperair/severe-weather (lifting condensation level and how to find it, level of free convection, CAPE and CIN as the positive and negative areas, a strong inversion called a cap); and the National Weather Service glossary, https://forecast.weather.gov/glossary.php?word=equilibrium%20level (equilibrium level, isobar, isotherm, dry adiabat, moist adiabat, mixing ratio). (2) Wikipedia, text only: Skew-T log-P diagram, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skew-T_log-P_diagram (horizontal isobars, isotherms at 45 degrees, dry adiabats, temperature and dew point soundings, wind barbs); Lifting condensation level; Level of free convection (the dry adiabat to the saturated mixing ratio line, then the moist adiabat); Equilibrium level; Convective available potential energy; Convective inhibition; Inversion (meteorology). Licence: own work

The drawing: Computed and drawn for this site by script on 2026-10-03. Own original chart; the sounding is invented and nothing is traced or copied. Licence: own work

How it works

A labeled skew T diagram for practice: five sets of lines, then one invented sounding with its temperature and dew point traces, three levels and the CAPE and CIN areas. Read the names, then press Quiz me.

Read the full guide

The five sets of lines

Isobars are level. Isotherms are straight and slope up to the right at 45 degrees, which gives the skew-T its name. Dry adiabats are solid curves that lean left. Moist adiabats are dashed curves, steeper near the ground. Mixing ratio lines are dotted and stop partway up.

The sounding

The right-hand heavy line is temperature and the left-hand one is dew point. A thin dash-dot line follows a parcel of air lifted from the ground: up a dry adiabat to the lifting condensation level, then up a moist adiabat. It crosses the temperature trace at the level of free convection and again at the equilibrium level.

  • The sounding is invented for practice. It is not a real station, date or forecast.

Questions and answers

What are the lines on a skew-T diagram?

Five sets: isobars (equal pressure), isotherms (equal temperature, skewed 45 degrees), dry adiabats, moist adiabats and mixing ratio lines. A plotted sounding adds a temperature trace, a dew point trace and wind barbs.

Why is it called a skew-T log-P diagram?

The temperature lines are skewed, drawn at 45 degrees instead of straight up. Pressure is plotted on a logarithmic scale, so equal steps of pressure sit farther apart toward the top of the chart.

How do you find the LCL on a skew-T?

Start at the surface temperature and follow a dry adiabat up. Start at the surface dew point and follow a mixing ratio line up. The lifting condensation level is where the two meet.

What do CAPE and CIN look like on a skew-T?

They are areas between the temperature trace and the path of a lifted parcel. CAPE is the area where the parcel is warmer than the air around it. CIN is the area where the parcel is colder.

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