Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
167
UXUS97 KBOU 180012
SRGBOU
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, Colorado
1812 MDT Tuesday, September 17, 2024
This forecast is for Wednesday, September 18, 2024:
If the trigger temperature of 66.9 F/19.4 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Good
Maximum rate of lift........................ 765 ft/min (3.9 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 15465 ft MSL (10166 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 83.0 F/28.8 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0945 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................. 13621 ft MSL (8323 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Thursday 09/19..... 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)................ Weak NVA
Potential height of wave....................... 40412 ft MSL (35113 ft AGL)
Wave soaring outlook for Thursday 09/19........ Poor
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:44:11 / 19:02:32 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 12 hr 18 min 20 sec (738 min 20 sec)
Altitude of sun at 12:53:22 MDT... 51.65 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 09/18/2024 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 13577 ft MSL (8278 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 19227 ft MSL (13928 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 17822 ft MSL (12523 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +2.2
K index......................... -4.5
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 -58.4 -73.1 255 49 25 0.5 0.3 M M M M M
45000 -57.0 -70.6 255 82 42 2.6 1.4 M M M M M
40000 -52.8 -63.0 255 90 46 4.4 2.4 M M M M M
38000 -49.9 -57.8 255 84 43 4.9 2.7 M M M M M
36000 -46.9 -52.4 255 79 40 4.9 2.7 M M M M M
34000 -42.9 -45.2 250 74 38 7.8 4.3 M M M M M
32000 -38.3 -36.9 250 71 36 7.7 4.3 M M M M M
30000 -33.7 -28.7 250 66 34 7.6 4.2 43.1 109.5 11.2 M M
29000 -31.4 -24.5 250 64 33 7.6 4.2 42.2 108.0 10.6 M M
28000 -28.6 -19.5 245 61 31 7.7 4.2 41.3 106.4 10.1 M M
27000 -26.4 -15.5 245 58 30 7.3 4.0 40.4 104.7 9.4 M M
26000 -24.2 -11.6 245 56 29 7.3 4.0 39.4 102.9 8.7 M M
25000 -22.0 -7.6 245 54 28 7.3 4.0 38.6 101.4 8.1 M M
24000 -19.9 -3.8 245 51 26 7.0 3.9 37.6 99.7 7.5 M M
23000 -17.7 0.1 245 49 25 7.1 3.9 36.6 97.9 6.8 M M
22000 -15.6 3.9 240 46 24 7.1 3.9 35.7 96.2 6.1 M M
21000 -13.5 7.7 240 44 23 7.0 3.8 34.7 94.5 5.4 M M
20000 -11.4 11.5 240 42 22 7.0 3.8 33.7 92.7 4.6 M M
19500 -10.3 13.5 235 41 21 7.0 3.8 33.3 91.9 4.2 M M
19000 -9.3 15.3 235 40 21 7.0 3.8 32.8 91.1 3.8 M M
18500 -8.2 17.2 235 39 20 7.1 3.9 32.4 90.3 3.5 M M
18000 -7.2 19.0 235 37 19 7.1 3.9 31.9 89.5 3.1 M M
17500 -6.1 21.0 235 36 18 6.7 3.7 31.5 88.6 2.7 M M
17000 -5.2 22.6 235 34 17 6.5 3.6 30.9 87.6 2.2 M M
16500 -4.2 24.4 240 32 17 6.3 3.5 30.4 86.7 1.7 M M
16000 -3.5 25.7 240 30 16 4.6 2.5 29.6 85.3 1.0 M M
15500 -2.8 27.0 245 29 15 4.8 2.6 28.8 83.8 0.2 M M
15000 -2.1 28.2 245 27 14 4.7 2.6 27.9 82.3 -0.5 740 3.8
14500 -1.1 30.0 245 24 12 4.7 2.6 26.7 80.0 -1.7 688 3.5
14000 -0.4 31.3 245 22 11 4.5 2.4 25.8 78.5 -2.5 653 3.3
13500 0.2 32.4 245 20 10 4.4 2.4 25.0 76.9 -3.4 619 3.1
13000 0.9 33.6 245 18 9 5.3 2.9 24.2 75.5 -4.1 583 3.0
12500 1.7 35.1 240 16 8 5.3 2.9 23.4 74.2 -4.9 545 2.8
12000 2.5 36.5 240 14 7 5.9 3.2 22.8 73.0 -5.5 506 2.6
11500 3.4 38.1 245 13 7 6.0 3.3 22.1 71.9 -6.2 466 2.4
11000 4.2 39.6 245 12 6 5.3 2.9 21.5 70.7 -6.8 426 2.2
10500 5.0 41.0 240 11 6 4.5 2.5 20.8 69.4 -7.5 388 2.0
10250 5.4 41.7 235 11 6 8.0 4.4 20.5 68.8 -7.9 369 1.9
10000 6.1 43.0 240 10 5 9.0 4.9 20.5 68.8 -7.9 340 1.7
9750 6.6 43.9 240 10 5 6.3 3.4 20.2 68.4 -8.2 317 1.6
9500 7.1 44.8 235 9 5 6.9 3.8 20.0 68.0 -8.4 295 1.5
9250 7.6 45.7 235 8 4 7.0 3.8 19.8 67.6 -8.7 272 1.4
9000 8.1 46.6 230 8 4 7.3 4.0 19.6 67.3 -8.9 250 1.3
8750 8.6 47.5 230 8 4 7.3 4.0 19.4 66.9 -9.1 226 1.1
8500 9.2 48.6 225 7 4 7.0 3.8 19.2 66.5 -9.3 203 1.0
8250 9.7 49.5 225 7 4 8.1 4.4 19.0 66.2 -9.6 180 0.9
8000 10.3 50.5 220 7 4 8.9 4.9 18.9 66.1 -9.7 154 0.8
7750 10.9 51.6 215 7 4 8.2 4.5 18.8 65.9 -9.9 130 0.7
7500 11.5 52.7 215 7 4 8.3 4.5 18.7 65.7 -10.1 105 0.5
7250 12.0 53.6 210 7 3 9.1 5.0 18.6 65.5 -10.2 80 0.4
7000 12.7 54.9 215 6 3 9.3 5.1 18.6 65.5 -10.3 53 0.3
6750 13.4 56.1 215 6 3 9.3 5.1 18.6 65.4 -10.4 26 0.1
6500 14.0 57.2 220 5 3 6.3 3.5 18.5 65.2 -10.6 0 0.0
6250 14.2 57.6 220 5 3 2.3 1.3 18.0 64.4 -11.1 M M
6000 14.4 57.9 225 5 3 2.8 1.5 17.4 63.4 -11.7 M M
5750 14.6 58.3 225 5 3 0.8 0.4 16.9 62.4 -12.3 M M
5500 14.2 57.6 220 6 3 -12.0 -6.6 15.8 60.5 -13.4 M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
09/18/2024 at 0900 MDT | 09/18/2024 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +8.6 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +7.7
CINH... -0.0 K Index... -7.3 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... -8.0
|
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 -58.9 -74.0 255 58 30 0.6 0.3 | -59.8 -75.6 250 58 30 0.3 0.2
45000 -57.3 -71.1 260 89 46 3.0 1.6 | -58.2 -72.8 255 89 46 3.6 2.0
40000 -52.8 -63.0 260 96 49 3.7 2.0 | -52.8 -63.0 260 96 49 4.5 2.4
38000 -49.7 -57.5 255 83 43 4.6 2.5 | -49.5 -57.1 255 84 43 5.0 2.8
36000 -47.0 -52.6 255 73 37 4.6 2.5 | -46.4 -51.5 255 73 38 5.1 2.8
34000 -42.7 -44.9 250 67 35 8.2 4.5 | -42.3 -44.1 255 67 35 7.6 4.1
32000 -37.8 -36.0 250 65 33 8.2 4.5 | -37.8 -36.0 250 63 32 7.6 4.2
30000 -32.8 -27.0 250 62 32 8.2 4.5 | -32.9 -27.2 250 60 31 8.4 4.6
29000 -30.4 -22.7 250 60 31 8.2 4.5 | -30.4 -22.7 250 59 30 8.4 4.6
28000 -28.0 -18.4 250 59 30 8.3 4.5 | -27.9 -18.2 250 58 30 8.5 4.7
27000 -25.7 -14.3 250 57 29 7.0 3.9 | -25.6 -14.1 250 57 29 7.5 4.1
26000 -23.6 -10.5 245 54 28 7.0 3.9 | -23.3 -9.9 245 56 29 7.5 4.1
25000 -21.5 -6.7 245 52 27 7.0 3.9 | -21.1 -6.0 245 54 28 7.5 4.1
24000 -19.5 -3.1 245 49 25 6.7 3.7 | -19.0 -2.2 245 52 27 6.6 3.6
23000 -17.4 0.7 245 47 24 6.7 3.7 | -17.0 1.4 240 49 25 6.6 3.6
22000 -15.4 4.3 245 45 23 6.7 3.7 | -15.0 5.0 240 47 24 6.6 3.6
21000 -13.4 7.9 245 43 22 6.7 3.7 | -13.0 8.6 240 44 23 6.5 3.6
20000 -10.9 12.4 245 41 21 6.7 3.7 | -11.0 12.2 240 41 21 6.5 3.6
19500 -9.9 14.2 245 40 21 6.7 3.7 | -9.5 14.9 240 40 20 6.5 3.6
19000 -8.9 16.0 245 39 20 6.6 3.6 | -8.6 16.5 240 38 20 6.8 3.8
18500 -7.9 17.8 245 38 20 6.5 3.6 | -7.5 18.5 240 38 19 7.0 3.8
18000 -6.9 19.6 245 37 19 6.5 3.5 | -6.5 20.3 240 37 19 7.0 3.8
17500 -5.9 21.4 245 36 19 6.6 3.6 | -5.4 22.3 240 36 19 7.0 3.8
17000 -5.0 23.0 245 35 18 6.6 3.6 | -4.4 24.1 240 35 18 7.0 3.8
16500 -4.0 24.8 245 34 18 6.0 3.3 | -3.4 25.9 245 34 18 6.6 3.6
16000 -3.2 26.2 245 33 17 5.8 3.2 | -2.4 27.7 245 33 17 6.5 3.5
15500 -2.3 27.9 245 32 16 5.5 3.0 | -1.4 29.5 245 33 17 6.3 3.5
15000 -1.6 29.1 245 30 16 4.5 2.5 | -0.6 30.9 245 31 16 6.0 3.3
14500 -1.0 30.2 250 29 15 4.6 2.5 | 0.3 32.5 245 30 15 6.0 3.3
14000 -0.3 31.5 250 27 14 4.3 2.3 | 1.1 34.0 245 28 15 5.2 2.8
13500 0.3 32.5 250 25 13 4.3 2.4 | 1.9 35.4 250 26 14 5.3 2.9
13000 1.0 33.8 255 23 12 4.9 2.7 | 2.7 36.9 250 24 13 5.4 3.0
12500 1.7 35.1 255 21 11 4.9 2.7 | 3.4 38.1 250 22 12 5.4 3.0
12000 2.4 36.3 255 18 9 5.7 3.1 | 4.2 39.6 250 20 10 5.4 3.0
11500 3.3 37.9 250 15 8 5.8 3.2 | 5.0 41.0 245 18 9 5.4 3.0
11000 4.2 39.6 250 13 6 6.1 3.3 | 5.8 42.4 245 15 8 4.8 2.7
10500 5.1 41.2 240 9 5 5.2 2.9 | 6.5 43.7 240 12 6 3.6 2.0
10250 5.6 42.1 235 8 4 10.0 5.5 | 6.8 44.2 235 11 6 9.5 5.2
10000 6.5 43.7 235 8 4 11.4 6.3 | 7.8 46.0 235 10 5 11.6 6.3
9750 7.1 44.8 230 8 4 7.6 4.2 | 8.4 47.1 230 10 5 6.8 3.7
9500 7.8 46.0 225 7 4 8.7 4.8 | 9.0 48.2 225 9 4 8.8 4.8
9250 8.4 47.1 220 7 4 8.2 4.5 | 9.6 49.3 220 8 4 5.7 3.1
9000 9.0 48.2 205 6 3 8.4 4.6 | 10.0 50.0 205 7 4 7.3 4.0
8750 9.6 49.3 210 6 3 8.7 4.8 | 10.7 51.3 205 7 3 11.0 6.0
8500 10.3 50.5 215 6 3 8.5 4.7 | 11.5 52.7 205 7 3 10.2 5.6
8250 10.9 51.6 220 6 3 8.9 4.9 | 12.3 54.1 205 7 3 9.5 5.2
8000 11.6 52.9 215 6 3 8.7 4.8 | 12.9 55.2 195 6 3 9.1 5.0
7750 12.2 54.0 215 6 3 7.5 4.1 | 13.7 56.7 195 6 3 10.4 5.7
7500 12.7 54.9 220 6 3 7.1 3.9 | 14.4 57.9 200 6 3 10.4 5.7
7250 13.2 55.8 225 7 4 6.7 3.6 | 15.2 59.4 200 6 3 8.4 4.6
7000 13.7 56.7 225 7 4 6.2 3.4 | 15.7 60.3 195 5 3 7.7 4.2
6750 14.2 57.6 225 7 4 6.9 3.8 | 16.5 61.7 195 5 3 11.7 6.4
6500 14.7 58.5 230 8 4 5.5 3.0 | 17.4 63.3 200 5 3 12.6 6.9
6250 15.0 59.0 230 8 4 3.2 1.8 | 18.3 64.9 200 5 3 10.5 5.7
6000 15.2 59.4 230 7 4 2.8 1.6 | 19.0 66.2 195 5 2 10.1 5.6
5750 15.4 59.7 230 7 4 3.9 2.2 | 19.8 67.6 195 4 2 11.4 6.2
5500 15.7 60.3 225 5 2 8.2 4.5 | 20.9 69.6 200 4 2 20.2 11.1
09/18/2024 at 1500 MDT | 09/18/2024 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +6.1 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +5.3
CINH... 0.0 K Index... -3.9 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... +11.3
|
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 -60.8 -77.4 245 58 30 1.0 0.5 | -61.4 -78.5 255 54 28 1.2 0.7
45000 -58.3 -72.9 255 87 45 3.9 2.1 | -58.4 -73.1 255 75 39 4.6 2.6
40000 -52.0 -61.6 255 101 52 5.4 3.0 | -51.0 -59.8 260 87 45 5.6 3.1
38000 -48.9 -56.0 255 93 48 5.2 2.9 | -47.7 -53.9 255 89 46 5.5 3.0
36000 -45.8 -50.4 255 86 44 5.3 2.9 | -44.4 -47.9 255 92 47 5.5 3.0
34000 -41.8 -43.2 255 78 40 7.3 4.0 | -41.0 -41.8 250 86 44 5.8 3.2
32000 -37.4 -35.3 250 71 36 7.3 4.0 | -37.5 -35.5 250 78 40 5.8 3.2
30000 -32.8 -27.0 250 65 34 8.0 4.4 | -33.2 -27.8 250 72 37 7.9 4.4
29000 -30.4 -22.7 250 64 33 8.0 4.4 | -30.8 -23.4 245 70 36 7.9 4.4
28000 -28.0 -18.4 250 62 32 8.0 4.4 | -28.5 -19.3 245 68 35 7.9 4.3
27000 -24.9 -12.8 250 56 29 8.4 4.6 | -25.3 -13.5 245 64 33 8.6 4.7
26000 -22.4 -8.3 245 49 25 8.4 4.6 | -22.7 -8.9 245 61 31 8.6 4.7
25000 -19.9 -3.8 245 43 22 8.4 4.6 | -20.2 -4.4 240 57 30 8.6 4.7
24000 -17.7 0.1 245 42 21 6.8 3.7 | -17.8 -0.0 240 55 28 7.7 4.2
23000 -15.7 3.7 245 44 23 6.8 3.7 | -15.5 4.1 245 52 27 7.7 4.2
22000 -13.7 7.3 245 46 24 6.9 3.8 | -13.2 8.2 245 50 26 7.8 4.3
21000 -11.7 10.9 245 45 23 6.4 3.5 | -11.3 11.7 245 48 25 5.5 3.0
20000 -9.8 14.4 245 42 21 6.4 3.5 | -9.7 14.5 245 48 24 5.5 3.0
19500 -8.9 16.0 245 40 21 6.4 3.5 | -8.9 16.0 250 47 24 5.4 3.0
19000 -7.9 17.8 250 38 20 6.5 3.6 | -8.1 17.4 250 47 24 4.8 2.6
18500 -6.9 19.6 250 37 19 6.8 3.7 | -7.5 18.5 250 44 23 3.5 1.9
18000 -5.9 21.4 250 35 18 6.8 3.7 | -7.0 19.4 250 42 22 3.5 1.9
17500 -4.8 23.4 250 34 17 6.6 3.6 | -6.4 20.5 250 39 20 4.6 2.5
17000 -3.9 25.0 250 33 17 6.6 3.6 | -5.8 21.6 250 35 18 4.8 2.6
16500 -2.9 26.8 250 32 17 6.5 3.6 | -5.2 22.6 250 31 16 5.9 3.2
16000 -2.0 28.4 250 31 16 6.2 3.4 | -4.2 24.4 245 27 14 7.2 4.0
15500 -1.0 30.2 250 30 16 6.3 3.5 | -3.2 26.2 245 23 12 7.3 4.0
15000 -0.2 31.6 250 29 15 4.9 2.7 | -1.9 28.6 240 20 10 9.5 5.2
14500 0.5 32.9 250 28 14 5.1 2.8 | -0.5 31.1 230 18 10 9.4 5.2
14000 1.2 34.2 250 26 13 5.3 2.9 | 0.9 33.6 225 17 9 9.0 4.9
13500 1.9 35.4 250 24 12 5.4 3.0 | 2.2 36.0 220 17 9 9.0 4.9
13000 3.2 37.8 245 21 11 7.3 4.0 | 3.5 38.3 215 16 8 8.9 4.9
12500 4.2 39.6 240 19 10 7.1 3.9 | 5.5 41.9 210 15 8 8.8 4.8
12000 5.3 41.5 235 17 9 7.9 4.3 | 6.8 44.2 205 14 7 8.7 4.8
11500 6.5 43.7 225 15 8 7.9 4.3 | 8.1 46.6 200 13 7 8.9 4.9
11000 7.6 45.7 220 14 7 6.6 3.6 | 9.3 48.7 200 12 6 7.2 3.9
10500 8.6 47.5 210 12 6 5.8 3.2 | 10.4 50.7 195 11 6 8.1 4.5
10250 9.1 48.4 205 11 6 10.3 5.7 | 11.1 52.0 190 10 5 11.8 6.5
10000 10.0 50.0 205 10 5 10.8 5.9 | 12.0 53.6 185 9 4 10.5 5.7
9750 10.6 51.1 200 10 5 6.6 3.6 | 12.7 54.9 180 8 4 7.7 4.3
9500 11.1 52.0 195 9 4 7.7 4.3 | 13.3 55.9 175 7 3 9.1 5.0
9250 11.7 53.1 190 8 4 7.4 4.1 | 13.9 57.0 170 6 3 6.4 3.5
9000 12.3 54.1 190 7 4 9.1 5.0 | 14.3 57.7 165 4 2 6.8 3.7
8750 13.0 55.4 190 7 4 10.3 5.6 | 15.0 59.0 155 3 2 9.5 5.2
8500 13.8 56.8 185 7 4 10.0 5.5 | 15.6 60.1 140 2 1 8.9 4.9
8250 14.5 58.1 185 7 3 9.9 5.4 | 16.3 61.3 095 1 1 8.5 4.7
8000 15.3 59.5 185 6 3 9.7 5.3 | 16.9 62.4 045 1 1 8.5 4.7
7750 16.0 60.8 185 6 3 9.8 5.4 | 17.6 63.7 020 2 1 9.0 5.0
7500 16.7 62.1 185 6 3 9.8 5.4 | 18.2 64.8 010 2 1 9.2 5.0
7250 17.5 63.5 185 6 3 9.7 5.3 | 19.0 66.2 360 3 2 10.1 5.6
7000 18.2 64.8 190 6 3 9.8 5.4 | 19.7 67.5 355 3 2 10.5 5.8
6750 19.0 66.2 190 6 3 10.3 5.6 | 20.5 68.9 350 4 2 10.1 5.5
6500 19.7 67.5 190 5 3 10.6 5.8 | 21.3 70.3 350 4 2 9.9 5.4
6250 20.5 68.9 190 5 3 10.7 5.9 | 22.0 71.6 345 4 2 9.8 5.4
6000 21.3 70.3 190 5 3 10.5 5.8 | 22.7 72.9 345 4 2 9.8 5.4
5750 22.1 71.8 195 5 2 11.5 6.3 | 23.5 74.3 345 5 2 10.2 5.6
5500 23.2 73.8 195 4 2 19.4 10.7 | 24.3 75.7 340 5 2 11.5 6.3
________________________________________________________________________________
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.
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