Column of rising air in the lower altitudes of Earth's atmosphere
This article is about the atmospheric phenomenon. For other uses, see Thermal (disambiguation).
Example of a thermal column between the ground and a cumulus
Bubble or vortex ring thermal model (left), and column or plume thermal model (right)
Thermal cross section with stronger lift (rising air) in darker shades of green, while red is sink (descending air).
A thermal column (or thermal) is a rising mass of buoyant air, a convective current in the atmosphere, that transfers heat energy vertically.[1] Thermals are created by the uneven heating of Earth's surface from solar radiation, and are an example of convection, specifically atmospheric convection.
^"Glider Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-13A" (PDF). FAA government handbooks. U.S. Dept. of Transportation, FAA. 2003. pp. 9–6, 9–7. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
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