Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
831
UXUS97 KBOU 261314
SRGBOU
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, Colorado
0713 MDT Sunday, May 26, 2024
This forecast is for Sunday, May 26, 2024:
If the trigger temperature of 60.0 F/15.5 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1269 ft/min (6.4 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 19682 ft MSL (14348 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 76.0 F/24.9 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0745 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ None
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 16373 ft MSL (11039 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Monday 05/27....... Good
Wave Soaring Index............................. Poor
Wave Soaring Index trend (to 1800 MDT)......... No change
Height of stable layer (12-18K ft MSL)......... None
Weak PVA/NVA (through 1800 MDT)................ Weak NVA
Potential height of wave....................... 21293 ft MSL (15959 ft AGL)
Wave soaring outlook for Monday 05/27.......... Good
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:35:55 / 20:17:20 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 41 min 25 sec (881 min 25 sec)
Altitude of sun at 12:56:38 MDT... 71.53 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 05/26/2024 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 10953 ft MSL (5619 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 13892 ft MSL (8558 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 16184 ft MSL (10850 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -3.8
K index......................... +18.7
Height Temperature Wind Wind Spd Lapse Rate ConvectionT Thermal Lift Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft deg C deg F Index fpm m/s
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50000 -53.7 -64.7 250 48 25 1.2 0.7 M M M M M
45000 -51.9 -61.4 255 53 27 1.3 0.7 M M M M M
40000 -49.8 -57.6 270 50 26 1.3 0.7 M M M M M
38000 -49.4 -56.9 275 52 27 0.2 0.1 M M M M M
36000 -49.3 -56.7 275 55 28 0.2 0.1 M M M M M
34000 -48.6 -55.5 280 57 29 5.5 3.0 M M M M M
32000 -45.4 -49.7 285 53 27 5.3 2.9 M M M M M
30000 -41.6 -42.9 295 49 25 6.5 3.5 34.1 93.3 7.3 M M
29000 -39.7 -39.5 295 45 23 6.5 3.6 32.7 90.8 6.3 M M
28000 -37.8 -36.0 295 41 21 6.5 3.6 31.5 88.6 5.4 M M
27000 -35.8 -32.4 295 37 19 7.1 3.9 30.4 86.7 4.6 M M
26000 -33.6 -28.5 290 35 18 7.3 4.0 29.3 84.8 3.9 M M
25000 -31.4 -24.5 290 32 16 7.3 4.0 28.4 83.2 3.2 M M
24000 -29.2 -20.6 285 29 15 7.6 4.2 27.7 81.8 2.6 M M
23000 -26.9 -16.4 285 28 14 8.1 4.4 26.9 80.5 2.0 M M
22000 -24.5 -12.1 290 26 13 8.1 4.4 26.3 79.4 1.5 M M
21000 -22.1 -7.8 295 24 13 7.6 4.2 25.8 78.4 1.0 M M
20000 -19.9 -3.8 300 25 13 7.5 4.1 24.9 76.8 0.3 M M
19500 -18.7 -1.7 300 25 13 7.5 4.1 24.5 76.1 -0.1 1259 6.4
19000 -17.6 0.3 305 25 13 7.5 4.1 24.1 75.5 -0.4 1211 6.2
18500 -16.5 2.3 305 25 13 7.2 4.0 23.8 74.9 -0.7 1163 5.9
18000 -15.5 4.1 310 24 13 6.9 3.8 23.3 73.9 -1.2 1118 5.7
17500 -14.5 5.9 310 24 12 6.9 3.8 22.8 73.0 -1.6 1073 5.5
17000 -13.6 7.5 310 24 12 6.2 3.4 22.3 72.1 -2.2 1030 5.2
16500 -12.2 10.0 315 23 12 6.3 3.5 21.4 70.5 -3.0 966 4.9
16000 -11.2 11.8 320 22 12 7.2 4.0 20.9 69.6 -3.5 922 4.7
15500 -10.2 13.6 320 22 11 7.1 3.9 20.4 68.8 -3.9 876 4.5
15000 -9.1 15.6 320 22 11 7.6 4.2 20.0 68.1 -4.3 829 4.2
14500 -8.0 17.6 325 22 11 7.7 4.2 19.7 67.4 -4.7 781 4.0
14000 -6.8 19.8 325 22 11 7.7 4.2 19.4 66.9 -5.0 732 3.7
13500 -5.7 21.7 325 23 12 7.7 4.2 19.0 66.2 -5.4 683 3.5
13000 -4.6 23.7 325 23 12 7.7 4.2 18.7 65.7 -5.7 634 3.2
12500 -3.4 25.9 320 24 12 7.6 4.2 18.3 65.0 -6.1 586 3.0
12000 -2.3 27.9 320 25 13 7.6 4.2 18.0 64.4 -6.5 538 2.7
11500 -1.2 29.8 320 26 13 7.7 4.2 17.7 63.8 -6.8 489 2.5
11000 -0.1 31.8 320 26 14 7.1 3.9 17.4 63.2 -7.2 440 2.2
10500 0.9 33.6 315 27 14 5.6 3.1 16.8 62.3 -7.8 397 2.0
10250 1.3 34.3 315 27 14 8.7 4.8 16.5 61.8 -8.0 376 1.9
10000 2.1 35.8 315 28 14 10.1 5.5 16.6 61.9 -8.0 346 1.8
9750 2.7 36.9 315 28 14 7.3 4.0 16.5 61.7 -8.2 320 1.6
9500 3.3 37.9 310 28 15 7.5 4.1 16.3 61.3 -8.4 297 1.5
9250 3.8 38.8 310 29 15 6.9 3.8 16.1 61.0 -8.6 273 1.4
9000 4.3 39.7 310 29 15 6.4 3.5 15.9 60.5 -8.9 252 1.3
8750 4.8 40.6 310 28 15 7.4 4.1 15.6 60.1 -9.1 229 1.2
8500 5.3 41.5 305 28 14 8.1 4.4 15.5 59.9 -9.3 205 1.0
8250 5.9 42.6 305 28 14 7.5 4.1 15.3 59.6 -9.5 180 0.9
8000 6.4 43.5 305 27 14 6.5 3.6 15.1 59.2 -9.7 158 0.8
7750 6.9 44.4 305 27 14 7.2 3.9 14.9 58.8 -10.0 136 0.7
7500 7.5 45.5 300 25 13 8.1 4.4 14.7 58.5 -10.2 111 0.6
7250 8.0 46.4 300 24 12 7.3 4.0 14.6 58.3 -10.4 87 0.4
7000 8.5 47.3 300 23 12 6.4 3.5 14.4 57.8 -10.6 65 0.3
6750 9.1 48.4 300 21 11 8.5 4.7 14.2 57.5 -10.9 42 0.2
6500 9.8 49.6 300 20 10 9.9 5.4 14.2 57.5 -10.9 13 0.1
6250 10.4 50.7 295 18 9 7.4 4.1 14.1 57.4 -11.0 M M
6000 10.9 51.6 295 15 8 6.0 3.3 13.8 56.9 -11.3 M M
5750 11.3 52.3 295 13 7 6.9 3.8 13.6 56.4 -11.6 M M
5500 11.6 52.9 290 10 5 -0.7 -0.4 13.2 55.8 -12.1 M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
05/26/2024 at 0900 MDT | 05/26/2024 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +2.5 | CAPE... +3.6 LI... +1.9
CINH... 0.0 K Index... +7.0 | CINH... -3.6 K Index... +13.2
|
Height Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate | Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft | deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50000 -54.0 -65.2 255 46 23 1.8 1.0 | -54.4 -65.9 255 42 22 1.8 1.0
45000 -51.4 -60.5 265 50 26 1.0 0.6 | -51.6 -60.9 270 48 25 0.8 0.5
40000 -49.7 -57.5 270 55 28 1.1 0.6 | -50.4 -58.7 280 60 31 0.8 0.5
38000 -49.4 -56.9 270 57 29 0.2 0.1 | -50.1 -58.2 285 61 32 0.4 0.2
36000 -49.3 -56.7 265 58 30 0.2 0.1 | -49.8 -57.6 295 62 32 0.4 0.2
34000 -48.7 -55.7 270 58 30 3.8 2.1 | -48.9 -56.0 300 63 32 5.1 2.8
32000 -46.5 -51.7 270 53 28 3.7 2.0 | -45.8 -50.4 295 57 30 5.2 2.9
30000 -43.2 -45.8 275 48 25 7.8 4.3 | -42.0 -43.6 290 51 27 6.4 3.5
29000 -40.9 -41.6 280 46 24 7.8 4.3 | -40.1 -40.2 290 49 25 6.4 3.5
28000 -38.5 -37.3 285 44 22 7.8 4.3 | -38.2 -36.8 285 46 24 6.4 3.5
27000 -36.2 -33.2 285 42 21 8.1 4.4 | -36.2 -33.2 285 44 22 8.0 4.4
26000 -33.8 -28.8 290 39 20 8.2 4.5 | -33.8 -28.8 285 41 21 8.0 4.4
25000 -31.3 -24.3 295 37 19 8.2 4.5 | -31.4 -24.5 285 39 20 8.0 4.4
24000 -28.9 -20.0 300 35 18 8.0 4.4 | -29.0 -20.2 290 37 19 8.2 4.5
23000 -26.6 -15.9 300 33 17 7.8 4.3 | -26.6 -15.9 290 35 18 8.2 4.5
22000 -24.2 -11.6 300 30 16 7.8 4.3 | -24.1 -11.4 290 33 17 8.2 4.5
21000 -21.9 -7.4 300 28 14 7.5 4.1 | -21.7 -7.1 295 31 16 7.8 4.3
20000 -19.7 -3.5 300 26 13 7.5 4.1 | -19.3 -2.7 295 30 15 7.8 4.3
19500 -18.6 -1.5 300 25 13 7.5 4.1 | -18.2 -0.8 295 29 15 7.8 4.3
19000 -17.5 0.5 300 24 12 7.5 4.1 | -17.0 1.4 295 28 15 7.8 4.3
18500 -16.4 2.5 300 23 12 7.5 4.1 | -15.9 3.4 295 27 14 7.6 4.2
18000 -15.3 4.5 300 22 11 7.5 4.1 | -14.7 5.5 295 27 14 7.5 4.1
17500 -14.2 6.4 305 21 11 7.5 4.1 | -13.6 7.5 295 26 13 7.4 4.1
17000 -13.1 8.4 305 21 11 7.4 4.0 | -12.6 9.3 295 26 13 6.8 3.8
16500 -12.0 10.4 305 20 11 7.4 4.1 | -11.6 11.1 295 25 13 6.9 3.8
16000 -10.3 13.5 310 20 10 7.2 4.0 | -10.1 13.8 295 24 13 6.5 3.6
15500 -9.3 15.3 310 21 11 7.2 4.0 | -9.2 15.4 300 24 12 6.5 3.6
15000 -8.2 17.2 310 21 11 7.3 4.0 | -8.2 17.2 300 23 12 6.4 3.5
14500 -7.1 19.2 310 21 11 7.3 4.0 | -7.3 18.9 300 23 12 6.4 3.5
14000 -6.1 21.0 310 22 11 6.8 3.8 | -6.3 20.7 300 23 12 7.2 4.0
13500 -5.1 22.8 310 22 11 6.8 3.7 | -5.2 22.6 300 23 12 7.2 4.0
13000 -4.1 24.6 310 22 12 6.5 3.6 | -4.2 24.4 300 23 12 7.8 4.3
12500 -3.2 26.2 310 22 11 6.4 3.5 | -3.0 26.6 300 23 12 7.9 4.3
12000 -2.2 28.0 310 22 11 6.6 3.6 | -1.8 28.8 295 23 12 8.2 4.5
11500 -1.3 29.7 310 22 11 6.7 3.7 | -0.6 30.9 295 22 12 8.3 4.6
11000 -0.3 31.5 305 22 11 6.1 3.3 | 0.6 33.1 295 22 11 7.3 4.0
10500 0.5 32.9 305 22 11 4.7 2.6 | 1.6 34.9 300 21 11 5.8 3.2
10250 0.9 33.6 310 22 11 9.2 5.1 | 2.1 35.8 300 20 10 11.1 6.1
10000 1.8 35.2 305 23 12 10.7 5.9 | 3.2 37.8 300 21 11 12.5 6.9
9750 2.4 36.3 305 23 12 7.0 3.8 | 3.8 38.8 300 20 10 7.9 4.4
9500 2.9 37.2 305 24 12 8.4 4.6 | 4.5 40.1 300 19 10 9.8 5.4
9250 3.5 38.3 305 25 13 6.4 3.5 | 5.2 41.4 300 19 10 6.9 3.8
9000 3.9 39.0 305 24 13 5.8 3.2 | 5.6 42.1 300 18 9 8.1 4.4
8750 4.4 39.9 305 24 12 7.7 4.2 | 6.4 43.5 300 18 9 11.3 6.2
8500 5.0 41.0 300 24 12 8.2 4.5 | 7.2 45.0 300 18 9 10.8 5.9
8250 5.5 41.9 300 24 12 7.1 3.9 | 8.0 46.4 300 18 9 9.5 5.2
8000 6.0 42.8 300 23 12 6.8 3.7 | 8.6 47.5 300 18 9 8.6 4.7
7750 6.6 43.9 300 21 11 9.5 5.2 | 9.3 48.7 300 18 9 10.5 5.8
7500 7.4 45.3 300 20 11 11.1 6.1 | 10.2 50.4 305 18 9 11.0 6.0
7250 8.1 46.6 300 20 10 8.8 4.8 | 10.9 51.6 305 18 9 8.9 4.9
7000 8.7 47.7 300 19 10 7.0 3.8 | 11.5 52.7 305 17 9 7.7 4.2
6750 9.3 48.7 300 18 9 11.2 6.1 | 12.2 54.0 305 17 9 11.9 6.5
6500 10.3 50.5 300 18 9 12.7 7.0 | 13.2 55.8 305 17 9 12.9 7.1
6250 11.1 52.0 300 17 9 10.0 5.5 | 14.0 57.2 305 16 8 10.4 5.7
6000 11.8 53.2 300 16 8 9.2 5.1 | 14.8 58.6 305 16 8 9.8 5.4
5750 12.5 54.5 300 15 8 10.8 5.9 | 15.6 60.1 305 15 8 12.1 6.6
5500 13.5 56.3 300 14 7 16.8 9.2 | 16.8 62.2 305 14 7 23.3 12.8
05/26/2024 at 1500 MDT | 05/26/2024 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +56.0 LI... -0.3 | CAPE... +24.0 LI... +0.3
CINH... -15.9 K Index... +18.5 | CINH... -3.7 K Index... +17.0
|
Height Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate | Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft | deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50000 -54.2 -65.6 260 44 22 2.6 1.4 | -55.2 -67.4 265 46 24 1.8 1.0
45000 -51.1 -60.0 275 51 27 -3.2 -1.7 | -53.3 -63.9 280 57 29 -3.5 -1.9
40000 -56.1 -69.0 290 62 32 -3.2 -1.7 | -58.8 -73.8 280 62 32 -3.3 -1.8
38000 -54.9 -66.8 295 64 33 4.2 2.3 | -56.6 -69.9 285 63 32 6.2 3.4
36000 -52.4 -62.3 300 65 34 4.2 2.3 | -52.9 -63.2 290 63 33 6.2 3.4
34000 -49.2 -56.6 305 66 34 7.3 4.0 | -48.8 -55.8 290 63 32 7.8 4.3
32000 -44.3 -47.7 305 64 33 7.3 4.0 | -43.5 -46.3 290 58 30 7.8 4.3
30000 -39.7 -39.5 305 61 32 8.1 4.5 | -38.8 -37.8 295 55 28 7.9 4.3
29000 -37.2 -35.0 305 59 30 8.1 4.5 | -36.5 -33.7 295 53 27 7.9 4.3
28000 -34.8 -30.6 305 57 29 8.1 4.5 | -34.1 -29.4 295 51 26 7.9 4.3
27000 -32.5 -26.5 310 54 28 6.4 3.5 | -31.7 -25.1 295 50 26 8.1 4.4
26000 -30.5 -22.9 305 51 26 6.6 3.6 | -29.3 -20.7 300 48 25 8.1 4.4
25000 -28.6 -19.5 305 48 25 6.6 3.6 | -26.9 -16.4 300 47 24 8.1 4.4
24000 -26.6 -15.9 300 45 23 6.3 3.5 | -24.6 -12.3 305 45 23 6.5 3.6
23000 -24.7 -12.5 300 42 22 6.3 3.4 | -22.6 -8.7 305 43 22 6.7 3.7
22000 -22.9 -9.2 300 39 20 6.3 3.5 | -20.6 -5.1 310 41 21 6.7 3.7
21000 -21.0 -5.8 295 36 18 6.5 3.6 | -18.7 -1.7 310 38 20 5.1 2.8
20000 -19.1 -2.4 295 33 17 6.5 3.6 | -17.2 1.0 305 35 18 5.3 2.9
19500 -18.1 -0.6 295 31 16 6.5 3.6 | -16.4 2.5 300 34 17 5.3 2.9
19000 -17.1 1.2 295 30 15 6.5 3.6 | -15.6 3.9 300 32 17 5.3 2.9
18500 -16.1 3.0 295 29 15 7.4 4.1 | -14.8 5.4 295 31 16 6.1 3.3
18000 -15.0 5.0 290 28 15 7.5 4.1 | -13.9 7.0 295 30 15 6.1 3.3
17500 -13.9 7.0 290 28 14 7.6 4.2 | -13.1 8.4 290 28 15 6.4 3.5
17000 -12.8 9.0 290 27 14 7.8 4.3 | -11.6 11.1 285 27 14 6.9 3.8
16500 -11.0 12.2 290 27 14 7.8 4.3 | -10.5 13.1 285 26 13 7.7 4.2
16000 -9.9 14.2 290 26 14 7.8 4.3 | -9.3 15.3 280 25 13 8.2 4.5
15500 -8.8 16.2 290 26 13 7.8 4.3 | -8.1 17.4 280 25 13 8.2 4.5
15000 -7.6 18.3 290 26 13 8.3 4.5 | -6.9 19.6 280 25 13 8.2 4.5
14500 -6.4 20.5 290 26 13 8.2 4.5 | -5.7 21.7 285 25 13 8.2 4.5
14000 -5.1 22.8 295 25 13 8.3 4.6 | -4.5 23.9 285 25 13 8.6 4.7
13500 -3.9 25.0 295 25 13 8.3 4.5 | -3.2 26.2 285 25 13 8.5 4.7
13000 -2.7 27.1 295 25 13 8.7 4.8 | -2.0 28.4 285 25 13 8.9 4.9
12500 -1.4 29.5 295 24 12 8.7 4.7 | -0.7 30.7 285 24 12 8.9 4.9
12000 -0.1 31.8 295 23 12 9.4 5.1 | 0.7 33.3 290 23 12 9.2 5.1
11500 1.3 34.3 295 23 12 9.6 5.3 | 2.1 35.8 290 22 11 9.2 5.1
11000 2.6 36.7 295 23 12 7.8 4.3 | 3.4 38.1 290 21 11 9.7 5.3
10500 3.8 38.8 295 23 12 6.2 3.4 | 4.9 40.8 290 21 11 10.6 5.8
10250 4.3 39.7 295 23 12 12.6 6.9 | 5.6 42.1 290 21 11 5.7 3.1
10000 5.5 41.9 295 23 12 14.1 7.7 | 5.9 42.6 290 21 11 6.9 3.8
9750 6.2 43.2 295 23 12 8.4 4.6 | 6.7 44.1 295 20 11 12.4 6.8
9500 6.9 44.4 295 23 12 10.7 5.9 | 7.6 45.7 295 20 11 11.9 6.5
9250 7.7 45.9 295 23 12 7.1 3.9 | 8.4 47.1 295 20 11 8.5 4.6
9000 8.1 46.6 300 23 12 8.0 4.4 | 8.9 48.0 295 20 10 8.0 4.4
8750 8.9 48.0 300 23 12 11.6 6.4 | 9.7 49.5 295 20 10 11.6 6.4
8500 9.7 49.5 300 23 12 11.1 6.1 | 10.5 50.9 295 20 10 10.9 6.0
8250 10.6 51.1 300 23 12 9.3 5.1 | 11.3 52.3 295 20 10 8.9 4.9
8000 11.2 52.2 300 23 12 8.4 4.6 | 11.9 53.4 295 20 10 8.3 4.6
7750 11.9 53.4 300 23 12 11.1 6.1 | 12.6 54.7 295 20 10 11.1 6.1
7500 12.7 54.9 300 23 12 11.0 6.0 | 13.5 56.3 300 20 10 10.7 5.9
7250 13.5 56.3 300 23 12 8.5 4.7 | 14.2 57.6 300 20 10 8.5 4.6
7000 14.0 57.2 300 23 12 7.5 4.1 | 14.8 58.6 300 20 10 7.9 4.3
6750 14.7 58.5 300 23 12 11.8 6.5 | 15.5 59.9 300 20 10 11.8 6.5
6500 15.7 60.3 300 22 11 12.4 6.8 | 16.4 61.5 300 19 10 11.9 6.5
6250 16.5 61.7 300 21 11 10.1 5.5 | 17.2 63.0 300 19 10 9.5 5.2
6000 17.3 63.1 305 21 11 9.6 5.3 | 17.9 64.2 300 18 9 9.5 5.2
5750 18.0 64.4 305 20 10 12.8 7.0 | 18.6 65.5 300 18 9 11.3 6.2
5500 19.4 66.9 305 18 9 24.2 13.3 | 19.7 67.5 300 16 8 16.8 9.2
________________________________________________________________________________
This product is issued twice per day, once by approximately 0630 MST/0730 MDT
(1330 UTC) and again by approximately 1830 MST/1930 MDT (0130 UTC). It is not
continuously monitored nor updated after its initial issuance.
The information contained herein is based on rawinsonde observation and/or
numerical weather prediction model data taken near the old Stapleton
Airport site in Denver, Colorado at
North Latitude: 39 deg 46 min 5.016 sec
West Longitude: 104 deg 52 min 9.984 sec
Elevation: 5285 feet (1611 meters)
and may not be representative of other areas along the Front Range of the
Colorado Rocky Mountains. Note that some elevations in numerical weather
prediction models differ from actual station elevations, which can lead to
data which appear to be below ground. Erroneous data such as these should
not be used.
The content and format of this report as well as the issuance times are subject
to change without prior notice. Comments and suggestions are welcome and should
be directed to one of the addresses or phone numbers shown at the bottom of this
page. To expedite a response to comments, be sure to mention your interest in
the soaring forecast.
DEFINITIONS:
CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) - An integrated measure of the
energy available for convective development, also known as the positive
area on a thermodynamic diagram. Units are Joules per kilogram. Larger
values are indicative of greater instability and the possibility of
stronger convective activity, including thunderstorms. Values around or
greater than 1000 suggest the possibility of severe weather should
convective activity develop.
CINH (Convective Inhibition) - An integrated measure of the amount of energy
needed to initiate convective activity, also known as the negative area on
a thermodynamic diagram. Units are Joules per kilogram. The more negative
this number, the more energy is required to initiate convection. This
inhibitive energy can be overcome through surface heating, cooling aloft,
lifting mechanisms (orographic, frontal, gravity waves, etc.)
Convective Condensation Level - The height to which an air parcel possessing the
average saturation mixing ratio in the lowest 4000 feet of the airmass,
if heated sufficiently from below, will rise dry adiabatically until it
just becomes saturated. It estimates the base of cumulus clouds that are
produced by surface heating only.
Convection Temperature (ConvectionT) - The surface temperature required to make
the airmass dry adiabatic up to the given level. It can be considered a
"trigger temperature" for that level.
Freezing Level - The height where the temperature is zero degrees Celsius.
Height of Stable Layer - The height (between 12,000 and 18,000 feet above
mean sea level) where the smallest lapse rate exists. The location and
existence of this feature is important in the generation of mountain
waves.
K Index - A measure of stability which combines the temperature difference
between approximately 5,000 and 18,000 feet above the surface, the amount
of moisture at approximately 5,000 feet above the surface, and a measure
of the dryness at approximately 10,000 feet above the surface. Larger
positive numbers indicate more instability and a greater likelihood of
thunderstorm development. One interpretation of K index values regarding
soaring in the western United States is given in WMO Technical Note 158
and is reproduced in the following table:
below -10 no or weak thermals
-10 to 5 dry thermals or 1/8 cumulus with moderate thermals
5 to 15 good soaring conditions
15 to 20 good soaring conditions with occasional showers
20 to 30 excellent soaring conditions, but increasing
probability of showers and thunderstorms
above 30 more than 60 percent probability of thunderstorms
Lapse Rate - The change with height of the temperature. Negative values indicate
inversions.
Lifted Condensation Level - The height to which an air parcel possessing the
average dew point in the lowest 4000 feet of the airmass and the forecast
maximum temperature must be lifted dry adiabatically to attain saturation.
Lifted Index (LI) - The difference between the environmental temperature at a
level approximately 18,000 feet above the surface and the temperature of
an air parcel lifted dry adiabatically from the surface to its lifted
condensation level and then pseudoadiabatically thereafter to this same
level. The parcel`s initial temperature is the forecast maximum
temperature and its dew point is the average dew point in the lowest 4000
feet of the airmass. Negative values are indicative of instability with
positive values showing stable conditions.
Lift Rate - An experimental estimate of the strength of thermals. It is
computed the same way as the maximum rate of lift but uses the actual
level rather than the maximum height of thermals in the calculation.
Also, none of the empirical adjustments based on cloudiness and K-index
are applied to these calculations.
Maximum Height of Thermals - The height where the dry adiabat through the
forecast maximum temperature intersects the environmental temperature.
Maximum Rate of Lift - An estimate of the maximum strength of thermals. It
is computed from an empirical formula which combines the expected maximum
height of thermals with the difference in the environmental temperatures
between the maximum height of thermals and the temperature 4,000 feet
above the ground. After this computation, further empirical adjustments
are made based on the value of the K-index and the amount and opacity of
middle and high level cloudiness expected between the time of trigger
temperature and the time of overdevelopment.
Middle/High Clouds - The amount and opacity of middle (altostratus, altocumulus)
or high (cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus) clouds. Broken means that
between 60% and 90% of the sky is covered by the cloud, with overcast
conditions occurring when more than 90% of the sky is covered by the cloud.
Thin implies that the clouds are predominantly transparent, meaning that
some sunlight is reaching the ground, in contrast to opaque which suggests
that little sunlight is reaching the ground.
Potential Height of Wave - The minimum of the following two heights:
1. Level above the height of stable layer (or 14,000 feet if none exists)
where the wind direction changes by 30 degrees or more
2. Level above the height of stable layer (or 14,000 feet if none exists)
where the wind speed no longer increases with height
PVA/NVA - Positive vorticity advection (PVA)/negative vorticity advection (NVA)
on the 500 millibar isobaric surface (approximately 18,000 feet above mean
sea level). Weak PVA has been shown to assist in mountain wave soaring.
Soaring Window - The time between the time the trigger temperature is reached
and the time of overdevelopment.
Thermal Index - The difference between the environmental temperature and the
temperature at a particular level determined by following the dry adiabat
through the forecast maximum temperature up to that level. Negative values
are indicative of thermal lift.
Thermal Soaring Index - An adjective rating (for sailplanes) based on the
computed maximum rate of lift, and the wind speed and middle and high
cloud cover expected during the soaring window (the time of the trigger
temperature and the time of overdevelopment) according to the following:
Maximum rate of lift Adjective Rating
>= 800 fpm Excellent
>= 400 and < 800 fpm Good
>= 200 and < 400 fpm Fair
< 200 fpm Poor
Time of Overdevelopment - The time one or more of the following phenomena,
which essentially shut off thermal lift, is expected to occur:
1. formation of broken to overcast convective cloud cover
2. formation of scattered to numerous downbursts
3. initiation of widespread precipitation
Time of Trigger Temperature - The time the surface temperature is expected to
reach the trigger temperature.
Trigger Temperature - The surface temperature required to make the first 4000
feet of the atmosphere dry adiabatic.
Wave Soaring Index - An empirical, adjective rating (for sailplanes) which
attempts to combine a variety of phenomena important in mountain wave
soaring into a single index number. Objective points are assigned to
these phenomena: wind speed and direction at 14,000 ft MSL, the static
stability in the 12,000-18,000 ft MSL layer, the wind speed gradient above
the stable layer, jet stream location and frontal and upper trough
movements.
042613