Bulk Richardson Number

Bulk Richardson Number

The Bulk Richardson Number (BRN) is a dimensionless number in meteorology relating vertical stability and vertical shear (generally, stability divided by shear). It represents the ratio of thermally produced turbulence and turbulence generated by vertical shear.

Practically, its value determines whether convection is free or forced. High values indicate unstable and/or weakly sheared environments; low values indicate weak instability and/or strong vertical shear. Generally, values in the range of around 10 to 45 suggest environmental conditions favorable for supercell development. See also: Monin-Obukhov Length.

Read more about Bulk Richardson Number:  Critical Values and Interpretation, Difficulties in Interpretation

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