Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
933
UXUS97 KPUB 091218
SRGPUB
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado
0618 MDT Thursday, May 9, 2024
This forecast is for the Air Force Academy for Thursday, May 9, 2024:
If the trigger temperature of 40.9 F/5.0 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Fair
Maximum rate of lift........................ 342 ft/min (1.7 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 15586 ft MSL (7974 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 46.0 F/8.2 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0900 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ None
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... Broken/overcast opaque middle
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 10705 ft MSL (3094 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Friday 05/10....... Poor
Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:51:23 / 20:00:01 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 8 min 38 sec (848 min 38 sec)
Altitude of sun at 12:55:42 MDT... 68.64 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 05/09/2024 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 8756 ft MSL (1144 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 15143 ft MSL (7531 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 15335 ft MSL (7723 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +5.3
K index......................... +8.1
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 -52.5 -62.5 255 7 4 2.2 1.2 M M M M M
45000 -49.2 -56.6 230 19 10 1.1 0.6 M M M M M
40000 -48.4 -55.1 250 28 14 0.5 0.3 M M M M M
38000 -48.6 -55.5 250 34 17 -1.0 -0.5 M M M M M
36000 -49.2 -56.6 250 41 21 -1.0 -0.5 M M M M M
34000 -49.6 -57.3 250 49 25 2.3 1.2 M M M M M
32000 -48.0 -54.4 245 50 26 2.7 1.5 M M M M M
30000 -46.1 -51.0 245 51 26 7.5 4.1 23.0 73.4 11.7 M M
29000 -43.9 -47.0 245 49 25 7.5 4.1 22.0 71.6 11.0 M M
28000 -41.6 -42.9 245 46 24 7.5 4.1 21.2 70.1 10.5 M M
27000 -39.4 -38.9 245 44 23 7.5 4.1 20.4 68.8 10.1 M M
26000 -37.0 -34.6 245 42 22 8.2 4.5 19.7 67.5 9.6 M M
25000 -34.5 -30.1 245 40 21 8.2 4.5 19.1 66.4 9.2 M M
24000 -31.5 -24.7 245 38 20 7.8 4.3 18.5 65.3 8.8 M M
23000 -29.6 -21.3 245 34 18 6.0 3.3 17.2 63.0 7.8 M M
22000 -27.7 -17.9 250 31 16 6.1 3.3 15.9 60.6 6.8 M M
21000 -25.9 -14.6 250 27 14 6.5 3.6 14.7 58.5 5.8 M M
20000 -23.9 -11.0 245 25 13 6.7 3.7 13.6 56.4 5.0 M M
19500 -22.9 -9.2 245 24 12 6.7 3.7 13.0 55.5 4.5 M M
19000 -21.9 -7.4 245 23 12 6.7 3.7 12.6 54.6 4.1 M M
18500 -20.8 -5.4 240 22 11 5.8 3.2 12.1 53.8 3.8 M M
18000 -20.1 -4.2 235 23 12 5.0 2.8 11.3 52.3 3.0 M M
17500 -19.4 -2.9 230 24 12 5.1 2.8 10.5 50.9 2.3 M M
17000 -18.6 -1.5 220 25 13 5.5 3.0 9.7 49.5 1.6 M M
16500 -17.9 -0.2 210 26 14 5.4 2.9 9.0 48.2 0.9 M M
16000 -17.0 1.4 200 27 14 7.2 4.0 8.4 47.1 0.3 M M
15500 -15.9 3.4 195 25 13 7.5 4.1 8.0 46.4 -0.1 734 3.7
15000 -14.8 5.4 185 24 12 8.1 4.4 7.7 45.8 -0.4 686 3.5
14500 -13.5 7.7 180 23 12 8.4 4.6 7.5 45.4 -0.6 634 3.2
14000 -12.3 9.9 180 21 11 7.9 4.3 7.3 45.1 -0.9 581 3.0
13500 -11.3 11.7 175 19 10 6.8 3.7 6.8 44.3 -1.3 535 2.7
13000 -10.2 13.6 175 16 8 7.3 4.0 6.3 43.4 -1.7 490 2.5
12500 -9.0 15.8 170 14 7 7.6 4.2 6.1 43.0 -2.0 438 2.2
12000 -7.9 17.8 165 13 7 7.2 4.0 5.7 42.2 -2.4 391 2.0
11750 -7.4 18.7 165 12 6 7.3 4.0 5.5 41.8 -2.6 367 1.9
11500 -6.8 19.8 165 11 6 8.0 4.4 5.3 41.5 -2.7 343 1.7
11250 -6.2 20.8 165 10 5 9.5 5.2 5.2 41.4 -2.8 316 1.6
11000 -5.4 22.3 165 9 5 9.2 5.1 5.2 41.4 -2.8 287 1.5
10750 -4.8 23.4 165 8 4 8.2 4.5 5.1 41.2 -2.9 260 1.3
10500 -4.2 24.4 165 6 3 7.3 4.0 5.0 40.9 -3.1 235 1.2
10250 -3.6 25.5 160 4 2 10.4 5.7 4.8 40.7 -3.2 210 1.1
10000 -2.7 27.1 145 3 2 10.4 5.7 5.0 41.0 -3.1 176 0.9
9750 -2.2 28.0 105 3 1 6.6 3.6 4.8 40.7 -3.3 151 0.8
9500 -1.6 29.1 070 3 2 6.9 3.8 4.6 40.3 -3.5 129 0.7
9250 -1.1 30.0 050 5 3 7.0 3.8 4.4 39.9 -3.7 106 0.5
9000 -0.6 30.9 040 7 4 6.5 3.6 4.2 39.5 -3.9 83 0.4
8750 -0.2 31.6 035 8 4 5.9 3.2 3.9 39.0 -4.2 62 0.3
8500 0.3 32.5 030 9 4 6.0 3.3 3.6 38.5 -4.5 41 0.2
8250 0.7 33.3 030 9 5 6.3 3.4 3.3 38.0 -4.8 20 0.1
8000 1.2 34.2 030 9 5 4.6 2.5 3.0 37.4 -5.1 M M
7750 1.4 34.5 020 6 3 1.0 0.5 2.5 36.5 -5.7 M M
7500 M M M M M M M M M M M M
7250 M M M M M M M M M M M M
7000 M M M M M M M M M M M M
6750 M M M M M M M M M M M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
05/09/2024 at 0900 MDT | 05/09/2024 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +1.6 | CAPE... +66.7 LI... +2.1
CINH... 0.0 K Index... +9.3 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... +13.1
|
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 -52.4 -62.3 230 6 3 2.4 1.3 | -53.0 -63.4 250 9 5 2.9 1.6
45000 -48.8 -55.8 240 19 10 -0.6 -0.3 | -48.7 -55.7 240 15 7 -0.9 -0.5
40000 -49.2 -56.6 240 19 10 -0.3 -0.2 | -49.5 -57.1 230 23 12 -0.5 -0.3
38000 -49.4 -56.9 240 25 13 -0.4 -0.2 | -49.6 -57.3 235 31 16 0.0 0.0
36000 -49.7 -57.5 240 37 19 -0.4 -0.2 | -49.6 -57.3 245 44 23 0.0 0.0
34000 -49.9 -57.8 240 48 25 1.8 1.0 | -49.3 -56.7 245 57 29 2.5 1.4
32000 -47.9 -54.2 240 51 26 2.9 1.6 | -47.9 -54.2 245 59 30 2.4 1.3
30000 -45.7 -50.3 245 52 27 8.2 4.5 | -45.9 -50.6 240 59 30 7.7 4.2
29000 -43.4 -46.1 245 49 25 7.8 4.3 | -43.6 -46.5 240 54 28 7.5 4.1
28000 -41.1 -42.0 245 47 24 7.8 4.3 | -41.4 -42.5 240 50 26 7.5 4.1
27000 -38.7 -37.7 245 44 23 7.8 4.3 | -39.1 -38.4 240 46 24 7.7 4.2
26000 -36.5 -33.7 245 42 21 7.3 4.0 | -36.7 -34.1 240 44 22 8.1 4.4
25000 -34.3 -29.7 245 39 20 7.3 4.0 | -34.3 -29.7 240 41 21 8.1 4.4
24000 -32.1 -25.8 245 36 18 7.3 4.0 | -31.9 -25.4 240 39 20 8.1 4.5
23000 -29.9 -21.8 245 34 18 7.4 4.1 | -29.6 -21.3 235 38 19 7.6 4.2
22000 -27.7 -17.9 245 33 17 7.4 4.1 | -27.3 -17.1 235 37 19 7.6 4.2
21000 -25.5 -13.9 240 32 16 7.0 3.8 | -25.1 -13.2 230 36 18 7.2 4.0
20000 -23.3 -9.9 240 28 14 6.0 3.3 | -22.6 -8.7 230 34 17 6.8 3.7
19500 -22.4 -8.3 240 26 14 6.0 3.3 | -21.6 -6.9 230 33 17 6.8 3.7
19000 -21.5 -6.7 240 25 13 6.0 3.3 | -20.6 -5.1 230 32 16 6.7 3.7
18500 -20.6 -5.1 235 24 12 6.9 3.8 | -19.5 -3.1 230 31 16 7.2 4.0
18000 -19.5 -3.1 240 24 12 7.1 3.9 | -18.5 -1.3 235 29 15 7.3 4.0
17500 -18.4 -1.1 240 24 12 7.3 4.0 | -17.4 0.7 235 27 14 7.5 4.1
17000 -17.3 0.9 235 25 13 8.1 4.4 | -16.2 2.8 235 24 13 7.8 4.3
16500 -16.1 3.0 230 26 13 8.2 4.5 | -15.1 4.8 235 22 11 8.0 4.4
16000 -15.0 5.0 225 26 14 6.7 3.7 | -14.2 6.4 230 20 10 5.2 2.8
15500 -14.1 6.6 215 27 14 6.8 3.7 | -13.4 7.9 225 19 10 5.5 3.0
15000 -13.1 8.4 205 28 14 6.7 3.7 | -12.6 9.3 220 19 10 4.2 2.3
14500 -12.1 10.2 200 28 14 6.5 3.6 | -12.0 10.4 210 21 11 4.1 2.2
14000 -11.2 11.8 195 27 14 3.5 1.9 | -11.5 11.3 205 23 12 3.8 2.1
13500 -11.0 12.2 190 24 12 1.2 0.6 | -10.9 12.4 205 20 10 3.7 2.0
13000 -10.9 12.4 185 21 11 3.1 1.7 | -10.4 13.3 205 18 9 4.1 2.3
12500 -10.1 13.8 190 17 9 4.6 2.5 | -9.7 14.5 200 15 8 5.4 2.9
12000 -9.5 14.9 185 14 7 5.1 2.8 | -8.8 16.2 190 11 6 5.4 3.0
11750 -9.1 15.6 185 13 7 7.0 3.9 | -8.5 16.7 190 10 5 4.7 2.6
11500 -8.5 16.7 185 12 6 7.1 3.9 | -8.1 17.4 185 8 4 5.5 3.0
11250 -8.0 17.6 180 10 5 7.9 4.3 | -7.7 18.1 170 6 3 7.5 4.1
11000 -7.4 18.7 175 8 4 7.7 4.2 | -7.1 19.2 140 5 3 7.9 4.3
10750 -6.9 19.6 170 6 3 7.3 4.0 | -6.5 20.3 115 4 2 7.8 4.3
10500 -6.3 20.7 155 4 2 6.8 3.7 | -6.0 21.2 090 5 3 7.1 3.9
10250 -5.8 21.6 105 2 1 9.0 5.0 | -5.4 22.3 070 6 3 10.2 5.6
10000 -5.1 22.8 050 3 2 8.4 4.6 | -4.6 23.7 060 7 4 11.4 6.2
9750 -4.6 23.7 030 5 3 5.9 3.2 | -3.9 25.0 055 8 4 8.9 4.9
9500 -4.2 24.4 025 7 4 5.9 3.2 | -3.2 26.2 050 8 4 10.0 5.5
9250 -3.7 25.3 020 9 5 8.3 4.6 | -2.5 27.5 045 9 4 8.2 4.5
9000 -2.9 26.8 015 11 6 10.2 5.6 | -1.9 28.6 045 9 4 8.9 4.9
8750 -2.3 27.9 015 12 6 8.9 4.9 | -1.1 30.0 045 9 4 10.9 6.0
8500 -1.6 29.1 015 12 6 9.2 5.1 | -0.4 31.3 040 9 4 10.6 5.8
8250 -0.9 30.4 015 12 6 9.3 5.1 | 0.4 32.7 040 8 4 9.9 5.4
8000 -0.1 31.8 015 12 6 12.8 7.0 | 1.3 34.3 040 8 4 15.7 8.6
7750 1.0 33.8 015 11 6 17.8 9.8 | 2.9 37.2 040 8 4 27.8 15.3
7500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
7250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
7000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
6750 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
05/09/2024 at 1500 MDT | 05/09/2024 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +71.6 LI... +1.0 | CAPE... +22.1 LI... +0.8
CINH... -0.3 K Index... +18.1 | CINH... -0.4 K Index... +21.4
|
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 -53.4 -64.1 270 11 5 2.2 1.2 | -53.9 -65.0 270 12 6 2.1 1.1
45000 -50.2 -58.4 255 17 9 -0.6 -0.3 | -50.9 -59.6 255 20 10 0.2 0.1
40000 -50.7 -59.3 240 30 16 -0.4 -0.2 | -50.4 -58.7 245 33 17 0.4 0.2
38000 -50.8 -59.4 240 39 20 -0.0 -0.0 | -50.3 -58.5 245 42 22 -0.1 -0.1
36000 -50.9 -59.6 245 52 27 -0.0 -0.0 | -50.4 -58.7 245 56 29 -0.1 -0.1
34000 -50.4 -58.7 245 64 33 4.0 2.2 | -50.0 -58.0 245 64 33 3.1 1.7
32000 -48.0 -54.4 240 65 33 3.9 2.1 | -48.2 -54.8 240 56 29 3.1 1.7
30000 -45.2 -49.4 240 63 33 7.9 4.4 | -45.7 -50.3 235 48 25 7.6 4.2
29000 -42.8 -45.0 240 57 29 8.0 4.4 | -43.4 -46.1 240 45 23 7.7 4.2
28000 -40.4 -40.7 235 51 26 8.0 4.4 | -41.0 -41.8 240 42 22 7.7 4.2
27000 -38.0 -36.4 235 45 23 7.5 4.1 | -38.7 -37.7 240 40 20 7.9 4.3
26000 -36.0 -32.8 235 41 21 6.8 3.7 | -36.3 -33.3 240 36 19 8.1 4.4
25000 -33.9 -29.0 235 37 19 6.8 3.7 | -33.9 -29.0 240 33 17 8.1 4.4
24000 -31.9 -25.4 235 33 17 7.0 3.8 | -31.5 -24.7 235 30 16 8.0 4.4
23000 -29.5 -21.1 230 30 16 8.3 4.5 | -29.2 -20.6 235 30 15 7.8 4.3
22000 -27.1 -16.8 225 28 15 8.3 4.5 | -26.9 -16.4 230 30 15 7.8 4.3
21000 -24.6 -12.3 215 27 14 7.9 4.3 | -24.0 -11.2 230 29 15 8.0 4.4
20000 -21.8 -7.2 215 26 13 7.7 4.2 | -21.6 -6.9 230 26 13 8.0 4.4
19500 -20.7 -5.3 215 26 13 7.7 4.2 | -20.4 -4.7 230 24 12 8.0 4.4
19000 -19.5 -3.1 220 25 13 7.8 4.3 | -19.2 -2.6 230 23 12 8.1 4.4
18500 -18.5 -1.3 220 24 13 6.3 3.4 | -18.1 -0.6 235 20 10 7.6 4.2
18000 -17.5 0.5 220 22 11 6.3 3.5 | -16.9 1.6 235 16 8 7.7 4.2
17500 -16.6 2.1 220 20 10 6.5 3.6 | -15.8 3.6 235 13 7 6.8 3.7
17000 -15.6 3.9 220 19 10 6.7 3.7 | -14.9 5.2 220 9 5 6.2 3.4
16500 -14.6 5.7 225 17 9 6.7 3.7 | -14.0 6.8 190 6 3 6.1 3.4
16000 -13.7 7.3 225 16 8 6.1 3.3 | -13.1 8.4 150 6 3 5.8 3.2
15500 -12.8 9.0 220 14 7 6.2 3.4 | -12.3 9.9 125 8 4 5.7 3.1
15000 -11.9 10.6 215 12 6 5.4 2.9 | -11.4 11.5 110 10 5 6.7 3.7
14500 -11.2 11.8 210 10 5 5.4 2.9 | -10.4 13.3 105 11 6 6.6 3.6
14000 -10.4 13.3 205 9 4 5.4 2.9 | -9.4 15.1 100 13 7 7.0 3.8
13500 -9.6 14.7 180 8 4 5.4 3.0 | -8.4 16.9 100 13 7 7.1 3.9
13000 -8.8 16.2 160 9 5 5.3 2.9 | -7.4 18.7 100 14 7 6.0 3.3
12500 -8.0 17.6 125 8 4 6.2 3.4 | -6.6 20.1 095 14 7 7.0 3.9
12000 -7.1 19.2 100 12 6 7.0 3.8 | -5.5 22.1 090 14 7 6.4 3.5
11750 -6.6 20.1 095 12 6 7.5 4.1 | -5.1 22.8 090 13 7 5.7 3.1
11500 -6.0 21.2 090 13 7 7.6 4.2 | -4.7 23.5 090 13 7 6.3 3.4
11250 -5.5 22.1 085 13 7 8.4 4.6 | -4.2 24.4 090 13 7 7.0 3.8
11000 -4.9 23.2 080 13 7 7.7 4.2 | -3.7 25.3 085 12 6 5.8 3.2
10750 -4.3 24.3 075 13 7 7.0 3.8 | -3.3 26.1 085 12 6 5.0 2.7
10500 -3.8 25.2 075 13 7 7.0 3.8 | -3.0 26.6 085 11 6 4.9 2.7
10250 -3.3 26.1 070 13 6 7.8 4.3 | -2.6 27.3 080 11 6 6.1 3.4
10000 -2.7 27.1 070 12 6 8.3 4.5 | -2.1 28.2 080 10 5 6.4 3.5
9750 -2.2 28.0 065 11 6 7.8 4.3 | -1.7 28.9 080 10 5 5.1 2.8
9500 -1.6 29.1 065 11 6 7.8 4.3 | -1.3 29.7 075 9 5 5.7 3.1
9250 -1.0 30.2 065 11 5 8.1 4.4 | -1.0 30.2 075 9 5 4.5 2.5
9000 -0.4 31.3 065 10 5 9.5 5.2 | -0.7 30.7 070 8 4 4.5 2.4
8750 0.4 32.7 060 10 5 10.1 5.5 | -0.3 31.5 070 8 4 5.6 3.1
8500 1.1 34.0 060 10 5 10.3 5.6 | 0.1 32.2 065 7 4 4.9 2.7
8250 1.8 35.2 060 9 5 9.0 5.0 | 0.5 32.9 060 7 3 8.0 4.4
8000 2.5 36.5 060 9 5 12.2 6.7 | 1.3 34.3 055 6 3 12.8 7.0
7750 3.8 38.8 060 8 4 21.0 11.5 | 2.2 36.0 050 5 3 12.6 6.9
7500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
7250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
7000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
6750 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
________________________________________________________________________________
This product is issued twice per day, once by approximately 0630 MST/0730 MDT
(1330 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 Air Force Academy
in Colorado Springs, Colorado at
North Latitude: 38 deg 58 min 48.000 sec
West Longitude: 104 deg 49 min 12.000 sec
Elevation: 6572 feet (2003 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.
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