D Thompson wrote:

> This is not so, moist air is less dense than dry air
>
> 2 or 3 times each year mid spring, midday the weather is
> such that a hang glider can 'thermal' on moisture lift

> Back to the bees, I'm sure that this is enough energy
> between this and heat to drive a circulation loop.

Apples and oranges. You are describing an energy filled environment (the
sun) while the discussion involves what is inside the hive where the
only source of energy is the cluster.

Outside the hive, conditions at night would not lead to the kind of
thermals encountered in the day, especially in a uniformly mixed local
atmosphere. Loads of other variables could lead to "sinking" moisture
laden air as well as rising. (Just add a water body.) It all depends on
energy transport, as shown by thermals in the day time.

In the hive, the issue is the movement of air caused by the heat of the
cluster including respiration. You can get convection because the
moisture in the air will condense ("where" appears to be another issue
and that has all to do with the temperature of the surface the moist air
comes in contact with). The less dense air will sink. But if there is a
vent above the cluster, the flow will be more up and out than up and down.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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