Laboratory studies of the entrainment zone of a convectively mixed layer

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Abstract
In laboratory experiments of simulated atmospheric mixed layers the entrainment zone is investigated from measurements of horizontally averaged temperature and buoyancy flux, and from visual observations of penetrating thermals using a spread laser beam. The region of negative buoyancy flux of entrainment is found to be confined between the outermost height reached by the few most vigorous penetrating parcels, and by the lesser height where mixed-layer fluid occupies, usually, some 90 to 95% of the total area. The height of most negative buoyancy flux of entrainment is found to agree roughly with the level at which mixed-layer fluid occupies half the area.