Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
000
UXUS97 KBOU 180035
SRGBOU
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, Colorado
1835 MDT Monday, June 17, 2013
This forecast is for Tuesday, June 18, 2013:
If the trigger temperature of 79.3 F/26.3 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Good
Maximum rate of lift........................ 456 ft/min (2.3 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 11134 ft MSL (5847 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 82.0 F/28.2 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1145 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ 1500 MDT
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 8227 ft MSL (2940 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Wednesday 06/19.... Excellent
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)................ Neither
Potential height of wave....................... 45975 ft MSL (40688 ft AGL)
Wave soaring outlook for Wednesday 06/19....... Poor
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:31:17 / 20:30:00 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 58 min 43 sec (898 min 43 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:00:46 MDT... 73.62 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 06/18/2013 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 15006 ft MSL (9719 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 15711 ft MSL (10424 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 15207 ft MSL (9920 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -4.1
K index......................... +19.1
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 -59.9 -75.8 280 29 15 3.4 1.8 M M M M M
45000 -55.9 -68.6 275 36 19 -0.1 -0.1 M M M M M
40000 -56.1 -69.0 275 40 21 2.3 1.3 M M M M M
38000 -53.2 -63.8 275 34 18 4.9 2.7 M M M M M
36000 -50.3 -58.5 270 29 15 4.9 2.7 M M M M M
34000 -45.5 -49.9 275 27 14 8.2 4.5 M M M M M
32000 -40.6 -41.1 275 28 14 8.2 4.5 M M M M M
30000 -35.7 -32.3 275 27 14 8.0 4.4 39.6 103.2 9.0 M M
29000 -33.3 -27.9 275 25 13 8.0 4.4 38.9 102.1 8.6 M M
28000 -30.9 -23.6 275 24 13 8.0 4.4 38.4 101.1 8.3 M M
27000 -28.8 -19.8 275 22 11 6.7 3.7 37.2 99.0 7.5 M M
26000 -26.8 -16.2 275 20 10 6.7 3.7 36.1 96.9 6.6 M M
25000 -24.8 -12.6 270 17 9 6.7 3.7 35.0 95.0 5.8 M M
24000 -22.8 -9.0 270 17 9 6.4 3.5 33.8 92.8 4.9 M M
23000 -20.9 -5.6 270 17 9 6.5 3.5 32.5 90.6 3.9 M M
22000 -19.0 -2.2 275 17 9 6.2 3.4 31.4 88.6 3.0 M M
21000 -16.6 2.1 275 17 9 8.8 4.8 30.8 87.5 2.5 M M
20000 -14.0 6.8 275 17 9 8.8 4.8 30.5 86.9 2.2 M M
19500 -12.7 9.1 275 17 9 8.8 4.8 30.4 86.7 2.0 M M
19000 -11.3 11.7 280 17 9 9.2 5.0 30.3 86.5 1.9 M M
18500 -10.0 14.0 280 16 8 9.3 5.1 30.2 86.3 1.9 M M
18000 -8.6 16.5 280 15 8 9.3 5.1 30.1 86.2 1.8 M M
17500 -7.2 19.0 280 14 7 8.9 4.9 30.0 86.0 1.7 M M
17000 -5.3 22.5 275 13 7 9.1 5.0 29.8 85.6 1.5 M M
16500 -3.9 25.0 275 12 6 9.5 5.2 29.7 85.5 1.4 M M
16000 -2.5 27.5 275 11 6 9.5 5.2 29.7 85.4 1.3 M M
15500 -1.1 30.0 270 10 5 9.3 5.1 29.6 85.3 1.3 M M
15000 0.3 32.5 265 9 5 9.4 5.1 29.6 85.2 1.2 M M
14500 1.6 34.9 260 8 4 8.9 4.9 29.5 85.1 1.1 M M
14000 2.9 37.2 255 7 4 8.7 4.8 29.3 84.7 0.9 M M
13500 4.2 39.6 250 7 3 8.8 4.8 29.1 84.4 0.7 M M
13000 5.5 41.9 245 6 3 9.0 4.9 29.0 84.2 0.6 M M
12500 6.8 44.2 245 6 3 8.9 4.9 28.9 84.0 0.5 M M
12000 8.2 46.8 245 6 3 8.9 4.9 28.7 83.7 0.3 M M
11500 9.5 49.1 245 5 3 8.7 4.8 28.6 83.5 0.1 M M
11000 10.7 51.3 255 5 2 8.0 4.4 28.4 83.1 -0.1 438 2.2
10500 11.9 53.4 265 4 2 5.3 2.9 28.1 82.6 -0.4 387 2.0
10250 12.1 53.8 265 4 2 4.5 2.5 27.6 81.7 -0.8 372 1.9
10000 12.7 54.9 265 5 2 8.9 4.9 27.4 81.4 -1.0 349 1.8
9750 13.3 55.9 265 5 3 9.5 5.2 27.4 81.3 -1.1 322 1.6
9500 14.0 57.2 265 6 3 8.1 4.4 27.3 81.2 -1.2 295 1.5
9250 14.4 57.9 260 6 3 5.0 2.7 27.1 80.7 -1.5 274 1.4
9000 14.7 58.5 255 6 3 5.2 2.9 26.7 80.0 -1.9 257 1.3
8750 15.2 59.4 255 6 3 6.7 3.7 26.4 79.5 -2.2 237 1.2
8500 15.6 60.1 250 6 3 5.4 3.0 26.1 79.0 -2.5 217 1.1
8250 15.9 60.6 255 5 3 4.2 2.3 25.7 78.3 -3.0 201 1.0
8000 16.2 61.2 260 5 3 3.4 1.9 25.3 77.5 -3.4 185 0.9
7750 16.4 61.5 270 5 2 3.9 2.1 24.8 76.6 -3.9 171 0.9
7500 16.6 61.9 280 5 3 -1.3 -0.7 24.2 75.6 -4.5 158 0.8
7250 16.2 61.2 290 5 3 -5.9 -3.3 23.1 73.6 -5.7 163 0.8
7000 15.7 60.3 300 6 3 -4.8 -2.6 22.0 71.6 -6.8 168 0.9
6750 15.3 59.5 310 7 4 -6.3 -3.5 20.8 69.5 -8.0 174 0.9
6500 14.7 58.5 310 8 4 -7.4 -4.1 19.5 67.2 -9.3 183 0.9
6250 14.2 57.6 310 8 4 -6.7 -3.7 18.2 64.8 -10.7 193 1.0
6000 13.6 56.5 310 8 4 -9.0 -4.9 17.0 62.5 -12.0 203 1.0
5750 12.8 55.0 310 9 5 -7.1 -3.9 15.5 59.9 -13.5 218 1.1
5500 12.6 54.7 300 5 3 2.5 1.4 14.7 58.4 -14.4 218 1.1
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
06/18/2013 at 0900 MDT | 06/18/2013 at 1200 MDT
|
K index... +16.7 LI... -1.0 | K index... +18.8 LI... -5.3
CAPE... +139.5 CIN... -167.8 | CAPE... +1370.4 CIN... -49.0
|
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 -59.8 -75.6 285 26 13 2.8 1.5 | -59.6 -75.3 275 25 13 3.1 1.7
45000 -56.4 -69.5 280 38 19 0.4 0.2 | -56.0 -68.8 280 41 21 0.2 0.1
40000 -55.8 -68.4 280 41 21 2.5 1.4 | -55.7 -68.3 280 40 21 2.5 1.3
38000 -52.9 -63.2 275 37 19 4.8 2.6 | -52.7 -62.9 275 40 20 5.1 2.8
36000 -50.0 -58.0 270 34 17 4.8 2.6 | -49.6 -57.3 275 39 20 5.1 2.8
34000 -45.7 -50.3 270 31 16 7.3 4.0 | -45.5 -49.9 270 36 18 6.5 3.5
32000 -41.3 -42.3 270 30 15 7.3 4.0 | -41.6 -42.9 265 32 16 6.5 3.6
30000 -36.4 -33.5 270 30 15 8.6 4.7 | -36.9 -34.4 270 30 16 8.5 4.7
29000 -33.8 -28.8 275 30 15 8.6 4.7 | -34.3 -29.7 270 30 15 8.6 4.7
28000 -31.2 -24.2 275 30 15 8.5 4.7 | -31.8 -25.2 270 29 15 8.5 4.7
27000 -29.0 -20.2 275 28 14 7.1 3.9 | -29.4 -20.9 275 28 14 7.7 4.2
26000 -26.8 -16.2 275 25 13 7.1 3.9 | -27.1 -16.8 275 26 13 7.7 4.2
25000 -24.7 -12.5 275 22 12 7.2 3.9 | -24.8 -12.6 280 24 12 7.8 4.3
24000 -22.7 -8.9 275 19 10 6.4 3.5 | -22.7 -8.9 275 21 11 6.3 3.5
23000 -20.8 -5.4 275 16 8 6.4 3.5 | -20.9 -5.6 270 18 9 6.3 3.5
22000 -18.9 -2.0 280 14 7 6.2 3.4 | -19.0 -2.2 265 15 8 6.1 3.3
21000 -16.6 2.1 280 13 7 8.6 4.7 | -16.6 2.1 265 13 7 8.9 4.9
20000 -14.0 6.8 280 13 7 8.6 4.7 | -13.9 7.0 265 12 6 8.9 4.9
19500 -12.7 9.1 280 13 6 8.6 4.7 | -12.6 9.3 265 11 6 8.9 4.9
19000 -11.4 11.5 280 13 6 9.3 5.1 | -11.3 11.7 265 10 5 9.2 5.1
18500 -10.0 14.0 280 13 7 9.4 5.2 | -9.9 14.2 260 10 5 9.3 5.1
18000 -8.6 16.5 275 13 7 9.5 5.2 | -8.5 16.7 255 10 5 9.3 5.1
17500 -7.2 19.0 275 12 6 9.7 5.3 | -7.1 19.2 255 10 5 9.4 5.2
17000 -5.8 21.6 275 12 6 9.7 5.3 | -5.0 23.0 245 9 5 9.5 5.2
16500 -3.7 25.3 270 11 6 9.3 5.1 | -3.6 25.5 240 9 5 9.7 5.3
16000 -2.3 27.9 270 10 5 9.3 5.1 | -2.2 28.0 235 9 5 9.8 5.4
15500 -0.9 30.4 265 9 5 9.4 5.1 | -0.7 30.7 230 9 5 9.3 5.1
15000 0.4 32.7 260 9 4 9.4 5.1 | 0.6 33.1 225 9 5 9.3 5.1
14500 1.8 35.2 255 8 4 9.3 5.1 | 2.0 35.6 220 9 5 9.3 5.1
14000 3.2 37.8 250 7 4 9.3 5.1 | 3.4 38.1 215 9 5 9.3 5.1
13500 4.6 40.3 240 7 4 9.2 5.1 | 4.8 40.6 215 10 5 9.3 5.1
13000 5.9 42.6 235 7 3 9.2 5.0 | 6.2 43.2 210 10 5 9.3 5.1
12500 7.3 45.1 230 6 3 9.0 4.9 | 7.6 45.7 205 10 5 9.1 5.0
12000 8.6 47.5 220 6 3 8.6 4.7 | 8.8 47.8 200 10 5 8.6 4.7
11500 9.8 49.6 210 6 3 8.5 4.7 | 10.1 50.2 200 9 5 8.4 4.6
11000 11.0 51.8 205 5 3 7.8 4.3 | 11.3 52.3 195 9 5 7.6 4.2
10500 12.2 54.0 195 5 2 4.7 2.6 | 12.4 54.3 185 8 4 4.7 2.6
10250 12.4 54.3 195 5 2 4.6 2.5 | 12.6 54.7 185 8 4 5.5 3.0
10000 13.0 55.4 195 4 2 9.5 5.2 | 13.3 55.9 185 8 4 9.9 5.4
9750 13.7 56.7 195 4 2 9.5 5.2 | 13.9 57.0 185 8 4 9.1 5.0
9500 14.4 57.9 195 3 2 8.1 4.4 | 14.6 58.3 180 8 4 8.0 4.4
9250 14.8 58.6 200 3 2 5.0 2.8 | 15.0 59.0 180 8 4 5.7 3.1
9000 15.2 59.4 205 3 2 5.2 2.8 | 15.4 59.7 175 8 4 6.7 3.7
8750 15.5 59.9 210 4 2 6.4 3.5 | 15.9 60.6 170 7 4 7.9 4.4
8500 15.9 60.6 210 4 2 4.9 2.7 | 16.3 61.3 160 7 4 7.2 4.0
8250 16.2 61.2 210 4 2 3.5 1.9 | 16.8 62.2 150 7 3 6.4 3.5
8000 16.4 61.5 210 3 2 2.7 1.5 | 17.2 63.0 135 6 3 6.8 3.7
7750 16.6 61.9 210 3 2 2.4 1.3 | 17.6 63.7 125 6 3 6.5 3.6
7500 16.6 61.9 210 2 1 -1.4 -0.8 | 18.1 64.6 115 6 3 8.9 4.9
7250 16.3 61.3 230 2 1 -4.5 -2.5 | 18.9 66.0 115 5 3 11.5 6.3
7000 16.0 60.8 260 2 1 -4.1 -2.2 | 19.7 67.5 110 5 3 10.3 5.6
6750 15.7 60.3 290 2 1 -2.4 -1.3 | 20.4 68.7 110 5 3 9.5 5.2
6500 15.6 60.1 300 2 1 2.5 1.4 | 21.1 70.0 110 5 3 10.4 5.7
6250 15.8 60.4 295 2 1 5.1 2.8 | 22.0 71.6 105 5 2 11.9 6.5
6000 16.1 61.0 290 1 1 1.8 1.0 | 22.8 73.0 105 4 2 9.6 5.3
5750 16.3 61.3 285 1 1 9.2 5.0 | 23.6 74.5 105 4 2 15.0 8.2
5500 17.7 63.9 300 1 0 29.2 16.0 | 25.3 77.5 100 4 2 30.6 16.8
06/18/2013 at 1500 MDT | 06/18/2013 at 1800 MDT
|
K index... +26.7 LI... -2.2 | K index... +26.5 LI... -3.2
CAPE... +502.5 CIN... -6.6 | CAPE... +669.5 CIN... -33.1
|
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 -61.3 -78.3 270 32 17 2.9 1.6 | -61.3 -78.3 275 33 17 2.1 1.1
45000 -57.4 -71.3 280 47 24 1.5 0.8 | -58.2 -72.8 280 47 24 2.1 1.2
40000 -55.1 -67.2 275 40 20 3.9 2.2 | -54.9 -66.8 275 37 19 4.9 2.7
38000 -52.0 -61.6 270 38 20 5.1 2.8 | -51.5 -60.7 275 35 18 5.8 3.2
36000 -49.0 -56.2 270 38 19 5.1 2.8 | -48.0 -54.4 270 33 17 5.8 3.2
34000 -44.6 -48.3 265 35 18 7.1 3.9 | -43.6 -46.5 275 32 16 6.9 3.8
32000 -40.4 -40.7 260 33 17 7.1 3.9 | -39.5 -39.1 275 31 16 6.9 3.8
30000 -35.4 -31.7 260 28 15 8.8 4.8 | -34.9 -30.8 275 32 17 7.8 4.3
29000 -32.8 -27.0 260 26 13 8.8 4.8 | -32.6 -26.7 275 33 17 7.8 4.3
28000 -30.2 -22.4 260 24 12 8.6 4.7 | -30.3 -22.5 275 34 18 7.8 4.3
27000 -27.8 -18.0 260 22 11 7.7 4.2 | -27.9 -18.2 275 35 18 7.9 4.4
26000 -25.6 -14.1 265 20 11 7.7 4.2 | -25.6 -14.1 275 37 19 7.9 4.4
25000 -23.3 -9.9 265 19 10 7.7 4.3 | -23.2 -9.8 275 38 20 8.0 4.4
24000 -21.1 -6.0 265 17 9 7.3 4.0 | -20.9 -5.6 275 37 19 7.7 4.2
23000 -18.9 -2.0 265 16 8 7.4 4.0 | -18.6 -1.5 275 34 18 7.7 4.2
22000 -16.7 1.9 265 14 7 7.4 4.0 | -16.3 2.7 275 31 16 7.8 4.3
21000 -14.5 5.9 265 13 7 7.5 4.1 | -14.2 6.4 275 28 14 7.1 3.9
20000 -12.3 9.9 270 12 6 7.5 4.1 | -12.2 10.0 275 24 12 7.1 3.9
19500 -11.2 11.8 270 11 6 7.5 4.1 | -11.1 12.0 275 22 11 7.1 3.9
19000 -10.0 14.0 270 11 6 7.5 4.1 | -10.1 13.8 275 20 10 7.2 4.0
18500 -8.9 16.0 265 11 6 7.6 4.1 | -9.0 15.8 280 20 10 7.3 4.0
18000 -7.8 18.0 265 11 6 7.6 4.2 | -8.0 17.6 280 19 10 7.3 4.0
17500 -6.7 19.9 260 10 5 7.6 4.2 | -6.8 19.8 275 19 10 8.7 4.8
17000 -5.6 21.9 260 10 5 7.6 4.2 | -5.5 22.1 275 19 10 8.6 4.7
16500 -3.9 25.0 250 9 5 7.2 3.9 | -3.6 25.5 270 19 10 8.9 4.9
16000 -2.9 26.8 245 9 5 7.2 4.0 | -2.3 27.9 270 20 10 8.9 4.9
15500 -1.8 28.8 240 9 4 7.2 3.9 | -0.9 30.4 265 20 10 9.2 5.1
15000 -0.8 30.6 230 8 4 7.2 4.0 | 0.4 32.7 265 20 10 9.3 5.1
14500 0.2 32.4 225 7 4 8.4 4.6 | 1.8 35.2 260 19 10 9.1 5.0
14000 1.5 34.7 220 7 4 9.0 5.0 | 3.1 37.6 255 18 9 8.9 4.9
13500 2.8 37.0 215 7 3 9.3 5.1 | 4.4 39.9 250 17 9 8.7 4.8
13000 4.2 39.6 215 6 3 9.7 5.3 | 5.7 42.3 240 16 8 8.3 4.5
12500 5.7 42.3 215 6 3 9.7 5.3 | 6.9 44.4 235 15 8 8.3 4.5
12000 7.1 44.8 215 6 3 9.7 5.3 | 8.1 46.6 225 15 7 8.4 4.6
11500 8.5 47.3 215 6 3 9.7 5.3 | 9.3 48.7 215 14 7 8.3 4.6
11000 10.0 50.0 215 6 3 9.6 5.3 | 10.6 51.1 205 14 7 8.2 4.5
10500 11.5 52.7 215 6 3 5.7 3.1 | 11.8 53.2 200 14 7 5.6 3.1
10250 11.7 53.1 215 6 3 6.6 3.6 | 12.1 53.8 195 14 7 6.6 3.6
10000 12.6 54.7 220 6 3 12.5 6.9 | 12.8 55.0 190 15 7 10.6 5.8
9750 13.4 56.1 220 6 3 11.1 6.1 | 13.5 56.3 185 15 8 9.7 5.3
9500 14.2 57.6 220 6 3 10.9 6.0 | 14.3 57.7 185 15 8 9.6 5.3
9250 15.0 59.0 220 6 3 9.7 5.3 | 14.9 58.8 180 16 8 8.8 4.8
9000 15.7 60.3 220 6 3 10.1 5.6 | 15.6 60.1 180 16 8 9.4 5.2
8750 16.5 61.7 225 6 3 10.6 5.8 | 16.3 61.3 180 16 8 10.1 5.5
8500 17.3 63.1 225 6 3 10.3 5.7 | 17.0 62.6 180 16 8 9.9 5.4
8250 18.0 64.4 225 6 3 10.2 5.6 | 17.7 63.9 175 16 8 10.1 5.5
8000 18.8 65.8 225 6 3 9.8 5.4 | 18.5 65.3 175 16 8 9.9 5.4
7750 19.5 67.1 225 6 3 9.4 5.1 | 19.2 66.6 175 16 8 9.6 5.3
7500 20.2 68.4 230 6 3 9.6 5.3 | 19.9 67.8 175 16 8 9.8 5.4
7250 20.9 69.6 230 6 3 9.8 5.4 | 20.6 69.1 175 16 8 10.0 5.5
7000 21.7 71.1 230 6 3 9.7 5.3 | 21.4 70.5 175 16 8 9.9 5.4
6750 22.4 72.3 230 7 3 9.7 5.3 | 22.1 71.8 175 16 8 9.6 5.3
6500 23.1 73.6 230 6 3 10.3 5.6 | 22.8 73.0 170 16 8 10.1 5.5
6250 23.9 75.0 235 6 3 11.0 6.0 | 23.6 74.5 170 15 8 10.7 5.9
6000 24.7 76.5 235 6 3 9.9 5.4 | 24.4 75.9 170 15 7 10.0 5.5
5750 25.4 77.7 235 6 3 10.7 5.9 | 25.1 77.2 170 14 7 10.8 5.9
5500 26.4 79.5 240 6 3 16.0 8.8 | 26.0 78.8 170 13 7 15.3 8.4
________________________________________________________________________________
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.
CIN (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
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- Page last modified: Jun 3rd, 2013 13:59 UTC