Thermal

A rising column of warm air formed when the ground heats the air above it. Soaring birds and gliders use thermals to gain altitude without flapping or powered flight.

Differential heating: Uneven absorption of heat creates temperature differences between nearby surfaces or air masses. Sun-warmed ground heats the air unevenly, initiating thermal formation.
Soaring: Flight that gains lift from moving air rather than continuous powered propulsion. Thermals are one of the main sources of lift used in soaring.
Sea breeze: A coastal wind that blows from sea to land as daytime heating warms the land more quickly. Sea-breeze fronts can trigger thermals where they meet inland air.
Atmospheric turbulence: Irregular, fluctuating air motion across a range of scales. Turbulence makes thermal boundaries and strength variable and hard to predict.
Convection: Heat transfer through the movement of a fluid, such as air or water. A thermal is a localized upward current produced by atmospheric convection.
Gliding: Flight in which an aircraft moves through the air without engine thrust. Glider pilots circle within thermals to gain altitude.
Mountain wave: A large atmospheric oscillation created when stable air flows across a mountain range. Unlike thermals, mountain waves can provide lift without surface heating.
Large eddy simulation: A computational fluid-dynamics method that resolves large turbulent motions while modeling smaller ones. It helps researchers simulate the turbulent flows that organize thermals.
Atmospheric boundary layer: The lowest part of the atmosphere, directly influenced by the Earth's surface. Most daytime thermals develop within this surface-heated layer.
Vulture: A large scavenging bird that often locates carrion by soaring over open landscapes. Vultures use thermals to stay aloft while covering broad search areas.

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