Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
148
UXUS97 KBOU 220117
SRGBOU
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, Colorado
1916 MDT Tuesday, May 21, 2024
This forecast is for Wednesday, May 22, 2024:
If the trigger temperature of 54.6 F/12.5 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1049 ft/min (5.3 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 18097 ft MSL (12823 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 73.0 F/23.2 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0915 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................. 15016 ft MSL (9742 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Thursday 05/23..... Good
Wave Soaring Index............................. Poor
Wave Soaring Index trend (to 1800 MDT).........
Height of stable layer (12-18K ft MSL)......... None
Weak PVA/NVA (through 1800 MDT)................ Neither
Potential height of wave....................... 39037 ft MSL (33763 ft AGL)
Wave soaring outlook for Thursday 05/23........ Poor
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:38:27 / 20:14:01 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 35 min 34 sec (875 min 34 sec)
Altitude of sun at 12:56:14 MDT... 70.81 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 05/22/2024 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 9489 ft MSL (4215 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 17708 ft MSL (12434 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 18168 ft MSL (12894 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +0.0
K index......................... -24.4
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 -51.8 -61.2 250 44 22 0.9 0.5 M M M M M
45000 -50.6 -59.1 260 53 27 -1.4 -0.8 M M M M M
40000 -52.4 -62.3 260 70 36 -1.2 -0.6 M M M M M
38000 -52.8 -63.0 260 73 38 -0.2 -0.1 M M M M M
36000 -52.9 -63.2 265 73 38 -0.2 -0.1 M M M M M
34000 -52.5 -62.5 265 73 37 6.9 3.8 M M M M M
32000 -48.4 -55.1 270 64 33 6.2 3.4 M M M M M
30000 -44.3 -47.7 275 59 30 8.5 4.7 31.5 88.7 6.5 M M
29000 -41.7 -43.1 275 58 30 8.5 4.7 30.9 87.7 6.2 M M
28000 -39.1 -38.4 275 57 29 8.5 4.7 30.5 86.9 5.9 M M
27000 -36.6 -33.9 275 56 29 7.7 4.2 30.1 86.2 5.7 M M
26000 -34.4 -29.9 275 53 27 7.3 4.0 29.1 84.3 5.0 M M
25000 -32.2 -26.0 275 49 25 7.3 4.0 28.1 82.7 4.3 M M
24000 -30.0 -22.0 280 46 24 7.4 4.1 27.4 81.2 3.7 M M
23000 -27.7 -17.9 280 43 22 7.7 4.2 26.5 79.7 3.0 M M
22000 -25.4 -13.7 285 40 21 7.7 4.2 25.7 78.3 2.4 M M
21000 -23.1 -9.6 290 38 19 7.7 4.2 25.1 77.2 1.9 M M
20000 -20.8 -5.4 290 36 19 7.7 4.2 24.3 75.7 1.3 M M
19500 -19.6 -3.3 285 36 18 7.7 4.2 23.9 75.1 1.0 M M
19000 -18.5 -1.3 285 35 18 7.7 4.2 23.6 74.5 0.7 M M
18500 -17.3 0.9 285 34 18 7.3 4.0 23.3 74.0 0.4 M M
18000 -16.3 2.7 285 33 17 6.9 3.8 22.8 73.0 -0.0 1048 5.3
17500 -15.2 4.6 285 33 17 6.9 3.8 22.3 72.2 -0.4 1003 5.1
17000 -14.2 6.4 280 32 16 6.4 3.5 21.8 71.2 -0.9 958 4.9
16500 -13.3 8.1 275 30 16 6.4 3.5 21.2 70.2 -1.4 914 4.6
16000 -12.3 9.9 275 29 15 6.6 3.6 20.6 69.2 -1.9 870 4.4
15500 -10.8 12.6 270 27 14 6.6 3.6 19.8 67.7 -2.6 804 4.1
15000 -9.8 14.4 270 25 13 6.6 3.6 19.3 66.8 -3.1 759 3.9
14500 -8.8 16.2 270 23 12 6.7 3.7 18.8 65.8 -3.6 714 3.6
14000 -7.9 17.8 270 21 11 5.9 3.3 18.2 64.8 -4.2 671 3.4
13500 -7.0 19.4 270 19 10 5.9 3.2 17.6 63.7 -4.8 630 3.2
13000 -6.1 21.0 275 17 9 5.8 3.2 17.0 62.5 -5.4 589 3.0
12500 -5.3 22.5 280 15 8 5.8 3.2 16.3 61.4 -6.0 549 2.8
12000 -4.4 24.1 285 14 7 5.7 3.1 15.7 60.2 -6.7 508 2.6
11500 -3.6 25.5 290 13 6 5.7 3.1 15.0 59.0 -7.4 469 2.4
11000 -2.8 27.0 295 12 6 6.0 3.3 14.4 57.9 -8.0 429 2.2
10500 -1.9 28.6 295 11 6 6.9 3.8 13.8 56.8 -8.7 388 2.0
10250 -1.4 29.5 300 10 5 3.1 1.7 13.5 56.3 -9.0 367 1.9
10000 -1.3 29.7 300 10 5 5.1 2.8 12.9 55.2 -9.6 355 1.8
9750 -0.6 30.9 305 10 5 10.3 5.7 12.8 55.1 -9.7 328 1.7
9500 0.1 32.2 310 10 5 9.7 5.3 12.8 55.1 -9.8 300 1.5
9250 0.8 33.4 315 10 5 7.9 4.3 12.8 55.1 -9.8 272 1.4
9000 1.2 34.2 315 11 6 6.6 3.6 12.6 54.6 -10.1 250 1.3
8750 1.9 35.4 310 12 6 9.8 5.4 12.4 54.4 -10.2 224 1.1
8500 2.7 36.9 310 14 7 11.3 6.2 12.5 54.5 -10.2 192 1.0
8250 3.4 38.1 310 15 8 8.0 4.4 12.6 54.6 -10.2 162 0.8
8000 3.9 39.0 305 17 9 5.6 3.1 12.3 54.1 -10.5 141 0.7
7750 4.3 39.7 305 18 9 6.2 3.4 12.0 53.6 -10.8 121 0.6
7500 4.7 40.5 300 19 10 5.8 3.2 11.7 53.1 -11.2 102 0.5
7250 5.1 41.2 295 19 10 5.6 3.1 11.4 52.5 -11.6 82 0.4
7000 5.5 41.9 295 18 9 5.3 2.9 11.1 51.9 -11.9 63 0.3
6750 5.9 42.6 290 18 9 6.2 3.4 10.7 51.3 -12.3 44 0.2
6500 6.3 43.3 285 16 8 4.3 2.4 10.5 50.8 -12.6 24 0.1
6250 6.5 43.7 280 14 7 1.6 0.9 9.9 49.8 -13.3 12 0.1
6000 6.6 43.9 275 12 6 3.5 1.9 9.3 48.8 -13.9 0 0.0
5750 6.8 44.2 260 10 5 -1.3 -0.7 8.8 47.8 -14.5 M M
5500 6.0 42.8 245 7 4 -19.2 -10.5 7.3 45.2 -16.0 5 0.0
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
05/22/2024 at 0900 MDT | 05/22/2024 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +6.5 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +5.2
CINH... 0.0 K Index... -28.1 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... -26.6
|
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 -51.8 -61.2 250 44 23 0.7 0.4 | -52.9 -63.2 250 46 23 1.1 0.6
45000 -50.9 -59.6 260 49 25 -2.6 -1.4 | -51.5 -60.7 255 50 26 -2.9 -1.6
40000 -54.3 -65.7 260 66 34 -2.3 -1.2 | -55.3 -67.5 260 65 33 -2.5 -1.4
38000 -54.7 -66.5 260 67 35 0.6 0.3 | -55.5 -67.9 260 66 34 1.4 0.8
36000 -54.4 -65.9 265 64 33 0.6 0.3 | -54.7 -66.5 260 64 33 1.4 0.8
34000 -53.3 -63.9 270 60 31 8.0 4.4 | -53.0 -63.4 260 61 31 8.0 4.4
32000 -48.2 -54.8 270 55 28 7.6 4.1 | -47.8 -54.0 260 55 28 7.8 4.3
30000 -43.5 -46.3 270 51 26 8.4 4.6 | -43.0 -45.4 260 51 26 8.4 4.6
29000 -41.0 -41.8 270 50 26 8.4 4.6 | -40.5 -40.9 260 50 26 8.4 4.6
28000 -38.4 -37.1 270 49 25 8.4 4.6 | -38.0 -36.4 260 49 25 8.4 4.6
27000 -36.0 -32.8 270 47 24 7.6 4.2 | -35.5 -31.9 260 48 25 7.3 4.0
26000 -33.7 -28.7 270 44 23 7.5 4.1 | -33.3 -27.9 260 46 23 7.2 4.0
25000 -31.5 -24.7 270 41 21 7.5 4.1 | -31.2 -24.2 265 43 22 7.2 4.0
24000 -29.2 -20.6 270 38 20 7.5 4.1 | -29.0 -20.2 265 41 21 7.7 4.2
23000 -27.0 -16.6 275 36 19 7.6 4.1 | -26.6 -15.9 260 38 19 8.0 4.4
22000 -24.7 -12.5 275 34 18 7.6 4.1 | -24.2 -11.6 260 35 18 8.0 4.4
21000 -22.4 -8.3 275 32 17 7.9 4.4 | -21.8 -7.2 255 33 17 7.9 4.4
20000 -20.1 -4.2 275 31 16 8.0 4.4 | -19.4 -2.9 260 32 16 8.0 4.4
19500 -18.9 -2.0 275 31 16 8.0 4.4 | -18.2 -0.8 260 32 16 8.0 4.4
19000 -17.7 0.1 275 31 16 8.0 4.4 | -17.0 1.4 260 31 16 8.0 4.4
18500 -16.5 2.3 275 30 16 7.9 4.3 | -15.8 3.6 265 31 16 7.9 4.3
18000 -15.3 4.5 275 30 15 7.9 4.3 | -14.7 5.5 265 30 16 7.9 4.3
17500 -14.1 6.6 275 29 15 7.8 4.3 | -13.5 7.7 265 30 15 7.9 4.4
17000 -13.0 8.6 275 29 15 7.2 4.0 | -12.3 9.9 265 29 15 8.1 4.5
16500 -11.9 10.6 275 28 15 7.3 4.0 | -11.1 12.0 270 28 15 8.2 4.5
16000 -10.8 12.6 275 28 14 7.0 3.8 | -9.9 14.2 270 28 14 7.5 4.1
15500 -9.2 15.4 275 26 13 7.0 3.8 | -8.2 17.2 270 27 14 7.5 4.1
15000 -8.2 17.2 275 25 13 6.5 3.6 | -7.1 19.2 270 26 14 7.0 3.8
14500 -7.2 19.0 275 23 12 6.6 3.6 | -6.0 21.2 265 26 13 7.0 3.8
14000 -6.3 20.7 280 22 11 6.0 3.3 | -5.0 23.0 265 25 13 6.9 3.8
13500 -5.4 22.3 280 20 10 6.0 3.3 | -3.9 25.0 265 23 12 6.9 3.8
13000 -4.5 23.9 280 18 9 5.6 3.1 | -2.9 26.8 265 22 11 6.7 3.7
12500 -3.7 25.3 280 16 8 5.5 3.0 | -1.9 28.6 260 20 10 6.7 3.7
12000 -2.9 26.8 285 14 7 5.7 3.1 | -0.9 30.4 260 17 9 6.2 3.4
11500 -2.0 28.4 285 12 6 5.7 3.1 | -0.0 32.0 255 15 8 6.0 3.3
11000 -1.2 29.8 280 9 5 5.4 3.0 | 0.9 33.6 250 13 7 6.0 3.3
10500 -0.4 31.3 275 7 4 5.9 3.2 | 1.7 35.1 240 11 6 6.5 3.6
10250 -0.0 32.0 270 7 3 2.9 1.6 | 2.2 36.0 235 10 5 3.5 1.9
10000 0.1 32.2 270 6 3 4.1 2.3 | 2.3 36.1 230 10 5 4.0 2.2
9750 0.7 33.3 255 5 3 7.9 4.3 | 2.8 37.0 220 9 5 7.1 3.9
9500 1.2 34.2 240 4 2 7.3 4.0 | 3.3 37.9 210 9 5 6.7 3.7
9250 1.7 35.1 220 4 2 6.4 3.5 | 3.8 38.8 195 9 5 5.5 3.0
9000 2.1 35.8 210 4 2 6.2 3.4 | 4.1 39.4 185 10 5 6.0 3.3
8750 2.7 36.9 210 4 2 8.4 4.6 | 4.7 40.5 180 10 5 8.6 4.7
8500 3.3 37.9 205 4 2 9.0 4.9 | 5.2 41.4 175 10 5 8.7 4.7
8250 4.0 39.2 200 4 2 8.2 4.5 | 5.8 42.4 170 10 5 9.4 5.2
8000 4.5 40.1 215 3 2 7.6 4.2 | 6.6 43.9 165 10 5 10.0 5.5
7750 5.1 41.2 230 3 2 8.1 4.4 | 7.3 45.1 165 10 5 9.7 5.3
7500 5.7 42.3 245 4 2 7.4 4.1 | 8.0 46.4 165 10 5 9.7 5.3
7250 6.1 43.0 250 4 2 5.7 3.1 | 8.7 47.7 165 10 5 10.1 5.5
7000 6.5 43.7 250 5 2 5.6 3.0 | 9.5 49.1 165 10 5 10.3 5.7
6750 6.9 44.4 245 5 3 4.5 2.5 | 10.3 50.5 165 10 5 10.2 5.6
6500 7.2 45.0 240 6 3 6.5 3.6 | 11.1 52.0 165 10 5 10.6 5.8
6250 7.8 46.0 225 6 3 9.5 5.2 | 11.9 53.4 165 10 5 11.2 6.1
6000 8.4 47.1 215 6 3 7.9 4.3 | 12.7 54.9 165 9 5 10.3 5.7
5750 9.0 48.2 205 7 3 11.8 6.5 | 13.5 56.3 165 9 5 13.2 7.3
5500 10.3 50.5 200 6 3 21.3 11.7 | 14.9 58.8 165 9 4 24.5 13.5
05/22/2024 at 1500 MDT | 05/22/2024 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +1.7 | CAPE... +32.3 LI... +0.4
CINH... 0.0 K Index... +6.0 | CINH... -70.0 K Index... +15.6
|
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 -53.5 -64.3 250 48 25 0.8 0.4 | -53.8 -64.8 260 41 21 0.3 0.2
45000 -52.6 -62.7 255 57 29 -1.8 -1.0 | -53.5 -64.3 265 54 28 -1.7 -0.9
40000 -55.0 -67.0 265 62 32 -1.6 -0.9 | -55.8 -68.4 280 58 30 -1.6 -0.9
38000 -55.0 -67.0 265 61 32 1.2 0.7 | -54.9 -66.8 285 57 30 3.4 1.9
36000 -54.3 -65.7 260 59 31 1.2 0.7 | -52.9 -63.2 290 56 29 3.4 1.9
34000 -52.6 -62.7 260 57 29 8.2 4.5 | -50.4 -58.7 295 55 28 6.5 3.5
32000 -47.1 -52.8 260 52 27 8.1 4.5 | -46.0 -50.8 280 53 27 6.5 3.6
30000 -42.3 -44.1 260 49 25 8.2 4.5 | -42.0 -43.6 270 54 28 7.2 4.0
29000 -39.8 -39.6 260 49 25 8.2 4.5 | -39.8 -39.6 270 54 28 7.2 4.0
28000 -37.3 -35.1 260 49 25 8.2 4.5 | -37.7 -35.9 270 53 27 7.2 4.0
27000 -34.9 -30.8 260 48 25 7.8 4.3 | -35.5 -31.9 270 53 27 7.4 4.1
26000 -32.6 -26.7 265 47 24 7.8 4.3 | -33.3 -27.9 265 51 26 7.4 4.1
25000 -30.2 -22.4 265 45 23 7.8 4.3 | -31.1 -24.0 265 50 26 7.4 4.1
24000 -27.9 -18.2 265 43 22 7.3 4.0 | -28.9 -20.0 265 48 25 7.4 4.1
23000 -25.8 -14.4 265 43 22 7.0 3.9 | -26.6 -15.9 260 46 24 7.4 4.1
22000 -23.7 -10.7 265 42 21 7.0 3.9 | -24.4 -11.9 260 43 22 7.4 4.1
21000 -21.5 -6.7 260 41 21 7.1 3.9 | -22.1 -7.8 255 41 21 8.8 4.8
20000 -19.4 -2.9 260 39 20 7.1 3.9 | -19.5 -3.1 255 38 19 8.8 4.8
19500 -18.4 -1.1 260 38 19 7.2 3.9 | -18.2 -0.8 250 36 19 8.8 4.8
19000 -17.3 0.9 255 37 19 7.1 3.9 | -16.9 1.6 250 35 18 8.8 4.8
18500 -16.2 2.8 255 35 18 8.4 4.6 | -15.6 3.9 250 33 17 9.0 4.9
18000 -14.9 5.2 255 34 17 8.8 4.8 | -14.3 6.3 245 32 16 9.1 5.0
17500 -13.6 7.5 250 32 17 8.9 4.9 | -12.9 8.8 245 30 15 9.2 5.0
17000 -12.3 9.9 250 31 16 9.1 5.0 | -11.5 11.3 245 29 15 9.5 5.2
16500 -10.9 12.4 250 30 15 9.1 5.0 | -10.1 13.8 245 27 14 9.5 5.2
16000 -8.9 16.0 250 28 14 8.7 4.8 | -8.0 17.6 245 25 13 9.3 5.1
15500 -7.6 18.3 245 27 14 8.7 4.8 | -6.6 20.1 245 24 12 9.3 5.1
15000 -6.3 20.7 245 26 13 8.6 4.7 | -5.3 22.5 245 22 11 8.7 4.8
14500 -5.0 23.0 245 25 13 8.7 4.7 | -4.0 24.8 240 21 11 8.8 4.8
14000 -3.7 25.3 240 24 12 8.6 4.7 | -2.7 27.1 240 19 10 8.6 4.7
13500 -2.4 27.7 235 23 12 8.6 4.7 | -1.4 29.5 240 17 9 8.7 4.8
13000 -1.2 29.8 235 22 11 8.2 4.5 | -0.1 31.8 235 15 8 7.8 4.3
12500 0.1 32.2 230 21 11 8.1 4.5 | 1.0 33.8 230 13 7 7.6 4.2
12000 1.3 34.3 225 21 11 7.5 4.1 | 2.2 36.0 225 10 5 8.1 4.4
11500 2.3 36.1 215 18 9 7.1 3.9 | 3.4 38.1 215 8 4 8.3 4.5
11000 3.3 37.9 205 16 8 6.0 3.3 | 4.6 40.3 205 6 3 7.7 4.2
10500 4.1 39.4 190 14 7 4.6 2.5 | 5.7 42.3 190 4 2 6.4 3.5
10250 4.5 40.1 180 13 7 8.7 4.8 | 6.2 43.2 175 4 2 11.0 6.0
10000 5.3 41.5 170 12 6 11.0 6.1 | 7.2 45.0 160 3 2 11.7 6.4
9750 6.0 42.8 165 12 6 8.4 4.6 | 7.8 46.0 150 3 2 7.6 4.2
9500 6.6 43.9 165 12 6 9.4 5.2 | 8.5 47.3 135 3 1 8.6 4.7
9250 7.3 45.1 160 11 6 7.8 4.3 | 9.1 48.4 120 3 1 8.7 4.8
9000 7.9 46.2 160 11 6 8.9 4.9 | 9.8 49.6 105 2 1 9.4 5.2
8750 8.6 47.5 160 11 6 11.0 6.1 | 10.5 50.9 095 2 1 9.6 5.3
8500 9.4 48.9 160 11 6 10.6 5.8 | 11.2 52.2 085 2 1 9.3 5.1
8250 10.2 50.4 160 11 6 10.1 5.6 | 11.9 53.4 075 2 1 10.4 5.7
8000 11.0 51.8 160 11 5 9.6 5.3 | 12.7 54.9 065 2 1 10.8 5.9
7750 11.7 53.1 155 10 5 10.2 5.6 | 13.5 56.3 060 3 1 9.3 5.1
7500 12.5 54.5 155 10 5 10.5 5.8 | 14.1 57.4 055 3 1 8.7 4.7
7250 13.3 55.9 155 10 5 10.0 5.5 | 14.8 58.6 050 3 1 10.0 5.5
7000 14.0 57.2 155 10 5 9.6 5.3 | 15.6 60.1 045 3 1 11.2 6.2
6750 14.7 58.5 155 10 5 9.5 5.2 | 16.4 61.5 040 3 1 9.8 5.4
6500 15.4 59.7 155 9 5 9.9 5.5 | 17.1 62.8 035 3 2 9.2 5.1
6250 16.2 61.2 155 9 5 11.1 6.1 | 17.8 64.0 030 3 2 10.0 5.5
6000 17.1 62.8 155 9 5 12.1 6.7 | 18.6 65.5 025 3 2 10.6 5.8
5750 17.9 64.2 155 9 4 9.6 5.2 | 19.4 66.9 025 3 2 9.3 5.1
5500 18.6 65.5 155 8 4 13.4 7.3 | 20.0 68.0 020 3 2 10.6 5.8
________________________________________________________________________________
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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