What is thermal?

  • (noun): Rising current of warm air.
    See also — Additional definitions below

Thermal

A thermal column (or thermal) is a column of rising air in the lower altitudes of the Earth's atmosphere. Thermals are created by the uneven heating of the Earth's surface from solar radiation, and are an example of convection, specifically atmospheric convection. The Sun warms the ground, which in turn warms the air directly above it. Dark earth, urban areas and roadways are good sources of thermals.

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Some articles on thermal:

Rise Over Thermal
... communication systems, the rise over thermal (ROT) indicates the ratio between the total interference received on a base station and the thermal noise ...
Thermal
... A thermal column (or thermal) is a column of rising air in the lower altitudes of the Earth's atmosphere ... Thermals are created by the uneven heating of the Earth's surface from solar radiation, and are an example of convection, specifically atmospheric convection ... Dark earth, urban areas and roadways are good sources of thermals ...
Microwave Power Meter - Thermal
... Thermal sensors can generally be divided into two main categories, thermocouple power sensors and thermistor-based power sensors ... Thermal sensors depend on the process of absortbing the rF and microwave signal energy, and sense the resulting heat rise ... Thermocouple power sensors make up the majority of the thermal power sensors sold at present ...
Mount Recheshnoi
... The northeast flank of Recheshnoi has one of the hottest and most extensive thermal areas in Alaska ... The Geyser Bight geothermal area consists of six zones of thermal springs and two fumarolic areas along upper Geyser Creek and contains the only known geysers in the state ... Other thermal areas occur at Hot Springs Cove and Partov Cove on the isthmus between Recheshnoi and Mount Okmok ...
Functionally Graded Material - Applications
... If it is for thermal, or corrosive resistance or malleability and toughness both strengths of the material may be used to avoid corrosion, fatigue, fracture and ... in the possibility of materials that can withstand very high thermal gradients ... analysis (FEA) using a quadrilateral mesh with each element having its own structural and thermal properties ...

More definitions of "thermal":

  • (adj): Relating to or associated with heat.
    Example: "Thermal movements of molecules"; "thermal capacity"
    Synonyms: thermic, caloric
  • (adj): Of or relating to hot a hot spring.
    Example: "Thermal water"
  • (adj): Caused by or designed to retain heat.
    Example: "A thermal burn"; "thermal underwear"