Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
180
UXUS97 KBOU 181248
SRGBOU
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, Colorado
0647 MDT Saturday, May 18, 2024
This forecast is for Saturday, May 18, 2024:
If the trigger temperature of 71.5 F/21.9 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1109 ft/min (5.6 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 17098 ft MSL (11811 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 78.0 F/26.0 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1130 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................. 10551 ft MSL (5264 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Sunday 05/19....... Excellent
Wave Soaring Index............................. Poor
Wave Soaring Index trend (to 1800 MDT)......... Little change
Height of stable layer (12-18K ft MSL)......... None
Weak PVA/NVA (through 1800 MDT)................ Neither
Potential height of wave....................... 18803 ft MSL (13516 ft AGL)
Wave soaring outlook for Sunday 05/19.......... Fair
Remarks... Light to moderate westerly flow aloft. Scattered pm showers and
storms with gusty winds.
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:41:26 / 20:10:29 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 29 min 3 sec (869 min 3 sec)
Altitude of sun at 12:55:58 MDT... 70.00 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 05/18/2024 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 13305 ft MSL (8018 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 16449 ft MSL (11162 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 16752 ft MSL (11465 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +0.1
K index......................... +12.8
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 -59.1 -74.4 255 32 16 1.2 0.7 M M M M M
45000 -57.5 -71.5 260 32 16 0.3 0.2 M M M M M
40000 -57.0 -70.6 255 51 26 -0.4 -0.2 M M M M M
38000 -54.1 -65.4 255 53 27 5.6 3.1 M M M M M
36000 -50.7 -59.3 255 54 28 5.6 3.1 M M M M M
34000 -46.9 -52.4 255 52 27 7.3 4.0 M M M M M
32000 -42.5 -44.5 255 47 24 7.3 4.0 M M M M M
30000 -37.9 -36.2 255 44 23 8.1 4.4 38.4 101.0 9.7 M M
29000 -34.8 -30.6 260 43 22 8.1 4.4 37.5 99.5 9.2 M M
28000 -32.4 -26.3 260 42 22 8.1 4.5 37.0 98.6 8.9 M M
27000 -30.2 -22.4 260 40 21 6.8 3.7 36.1 96.9 8.3 M M
26000 -28.2 -18.8 260 37 19 6.8 3.7 34.9 94.8 7.4 M M
25000 -26.1 -15.0 260 34 18 6.8 3.7 33.8 92.9 6.7 M M
24000 -24.1 -11.4 260 32 17 7.0 3.9 32.8 91.1 5.9 M M
23000 -22.0 -7.6 265 32 17 7.0 3.9 31.8 89.2 5.1 M M
22000 -19.9 -3.8 265 32 17 7.0 3.8 30.8 87.5 4.4 M M
21000 -17.8 -0.0 270 33 17 6.5 3.6 29.8 85.6 3.6 M M
20000 -15.9 3.4 275 35 18 6.5 3.6 28.6 83.5 2.6 M M
19500 -14.9 5.2 275 36 19 6.5 3.6 28.1 82.5 2.1 M M
19000 -13.9 7.0 280 37 19 6.6 3.6 27.5 81.6 1.7 M M
18500 -12.9 8.8 280 38 19 6.9 3.8 27.0 80.7 1.3 M M
18000 -11.9 10.6 280 38 19 7.0 3.8 26.5 79.8 0.8 M M
17500 -10.9 12.4 280 38 20 7.2 4.0 26.1 79.0 0.4 M M
17000 -9.8 14.4 280 38 19 7.4 4.1 25.7 78.2 -0.0 1107 5.6
16500 -8.7 16.3 275 37 19 7.8 4.3 25.3 77.5 -0.4 1061 5.4
16000 -7.5 18.5 275 36 19 8.9 4.9 25.1 77.1 -0.6 1009 5.1
15500 -6.2 20.8 275 35 18 8.8 4.9 24.9 76.8 -0.8 956 4.9
15000 -4.9 23.2 275 34 17 9.3 5.1 24.8 76.6 -1.0 901 4.6
14500 -2.8 27.0 275 32 16 9.2 5.0 24.7 76.4 -1.1 817 4.2
14000 -1.5 29.3 275 30 16 8.8 4.8 24.5 76.1 -1.3 763 3.9
13500 -0.2 31.6 280 29 15 8.8 4.8 24.4 75.9 -1.4 710 3.6
13000 1.0 33.8 280 27 14 8.2 4.5 24.2 75.5 -1.7 658 3.3
12500 2.2 36.0 280 25 13 8.2 4.5 23.9 75.1 -1.9 607 3.1
12000 3.4 38.1 285 24 12 8.6 4.7 23.7 74.7 -2.2 556 2.8
11500 4.7 40.5 290 22 11 8.7 4.8 23.5 74.3 -2.4 504 2.6
11000 5.8 42.4 290 20 11 7.5 4.1 23.3 73.9 -2.7 454 2.3
10500 7.0 44.6 295 18 9 7.9 4.3 22.9 73.3 -3.1 406 2.1
10250 7.5 45.5 300 17 9 6.1 3.4 22.8 73.0 -3.3 382 1.9
10000 7.9 46.2 300 16 8 7.8 4.3 22.4 72.4 -3.6 361 1.8
9750 8.7 47.7 300 15 8 10.7 5.9 22.5 72.4 -3.5 331 1.7
9500 9.5 49.1 300 13 7 10.5 5.7 22.5 72.5 -3.5 300 1.5
9250 10.2 50.4 305 12 6 8.5 4.7 22.5 72.6 -3.5 270 1.4
9000 10.8 51.4 305 11 6 8.6 4.7 22.4 72.3 -3.6 246 1.3
8750 11.6 52.9 310 10 5 10.9 6.0 22.4 72.4 -3.6 215 1.1
8500 12.4 54.3 315 9 5 10.3 5.7 22.5 72.5 -3.6 185 0.9
8250 13.1 55.6 320 8 4 9.4 5.1 22.5 72.5 -3.5 155 0.8
8000 13.8 56.8 325 8 4 8.3 4.6 22.4 72.4 -3.6 128 0.6
7750 14.4 57.9 330 8 4 8.4 4.6 22.3 72.2 -3.8 102 0.5
7500 15.0 59.0 330 9 4 8.3 4.6 22.2 72.0 -3.9 76 0.4
7250 15.6 60.1 330 9 5 8.8 4.8 22.1 71.8 -4.0 50 0.3
7000 16.2 61.2 325 10 5 8.3 4.5 22.0 71.7 -4.1 24 0.1
6750 16.8 62.2 325 11 6 9.7 5.3 21.9 71.5 -4.3 M M
6500 17.4 63.3 325 12 6 2.0 1.1 21.8 71.2 -4.4 M M
6250 17.0 62.6 325 11 6 -7.2 -3.9 20.7 69.3 -5.5 M M
6000 16.6 61.9 320 9 5 -4.0 -2.2 19.5 67.2 -6.8 M M
5750 16.1 61.0 315 8 4 -12.0 -6.6 18.4 65.1 -8.0 M M
5500 14.2 57.6 290 6 3 -38.5 -21.1 15.8 60.5 -10.6 42 0.2
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
05/18/2024 at 0900 MDT | 05/18/2024 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +1.0 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... -0.7
CINH... 0.0 K Index... +17.1 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... +24.0
|
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 -58.4 -73.1 255 35 18 1.0 0.6 | -57.8 -72.0 250 35 18 1.9 1.1
45000 -57.1 -70.8 250 34 18 -0.4 -0.2 | -55.6 -68.1 240 41 21 -1.8 -1.0
40000 -57.9 -72.2 255 48 25 -1.3 -0.7 | -58.2 -72.8 240 50 26 -2.5 -1.4
38000 -54.9 -66.8 255 48 25 5.8 3.2 | -55.3 -67.5 245 50 26 6.1 3.3
36000 -51.5 -60.7 255 48 25 5.8 3.2 | -51.6 -60.9 250 49 25 6.1 3.3
34000 -47.5 -53.5 255 46 24 7.5 4.1 | -47.8 -54.0 250 48 25 6.9 3.8
32000 -43.0 -45.4 260 44 23 7.5 4.1 | -43.6 -46.5 250 46 24 6.9 3.8
30000 -38.3 -36.9 260 43 22 8.1 4.4 | -38.4 -37.1 255 44 23 8.5 4.7
29000 -35.3 -31.5 260 43 22 8.1 4.4 | -35.9 -32.6 255 44 22 8.5 4.7
28000 -32.9 -27.2 265 43 22 8.1 4.5 | -33.4 -28.1 255 43 22 8.5 4.7
27000 -30.6 -23.1 265 42 22 7.1 3.9 | -31.1 -24.0 260 43 22 7.1 3.9
26000 -28.5 -19.3 265 40 21 7.1 3.9 | -28.9 -20.0 260 42 21 7.1 3.9
25000 -26.4 -15.5 265 38 20 7.1 3.9 | -26.8 -16.2 265 41 21 7.1 3.9
24000 -24.2 -11.6 265 36 19 7.3 4.0 | -24.7 -12.5 265 40 21 7.2 4.0
23000 -22.0 -7.6 265 35 18 7.3 4.0 | -22.6 -8.7 270 41 21 7.2 4.0
22000 -19.8 -3.6 270 34 17 7.3 4.0 | -20.4 -4.7 270 42 22 7.2 4.0
21000 -17.8 -0.0 270 34 17 6.2 3.4 | -18.3 -0.9 270 42 21 7.1 3.9
20000 -15.9 3.4 275 35 18 6.2 3.4 | -16.2 2.8 270 41 21 7.1 3.9
19500 -15.0 5.0 275 36 18 6.2 3.4 | -15.2 4.6 270 40 21 7.1 3.9
19000 -14.1 6.6 280 37 19 6.2 3.4 | -14.2 6.4 270 40 20 7.2 4.0
18500 -13.3 8.1 280 38 19 5.7 3.1 | -13.1 8.4 270 38 19 7.7 4.2
18000 -12.5 9.5 280 39 20 5.7 3.1 | -11.9 10.6 270 35 18 7.7 4.2
17500 -11.5 11.3 280 39 20 9.1 5.0 | -10.8 12.6 270 33 17 8.6 4.7
17000 -10.1 13.8 280 38 20 9.8 5.4 | -9.5 14.9 270 30 15 8.7 4.8
16500 -8.7 16.3 280 37 19 9.6 5.3 | -8.2 17.2 270 28 14 8.7 4.8
16000 -7.3 18.9 280 35 18 9.2 5.1 | -7.0 19.4 265 26 13 8.6 4.7
15500 -5.9 21.4 275 33 17 9.3 5.1 | -5.1 22.8 265 24 12 8.6 4.7
15000 -4.6 23.7 275 32 16 8.7 4.8 | -3.8 25.2 265 22 12 8.7 4.8
14500 -2.7 27.1 270 29 15 8.7 4.8 | -2.5 27.5 260 21 11 8.9 4.9
14000 -1.4 29.5 270 28 14 8.5 4.7 | -1.1 30.0 255 20 10 9.3 5.1
13500 -0.1 31.8 265 26 14 8.5 4.7 | 0.2 32.4 250 19 10 9.3 5.1
13000 1.1 34.0 265 25 13 8.1 4.5 | 1.6 34.9 245 18 9 9.0 4.9
12500 2.3 36.1 260 24 13 8.2 4.5 | 2.9 37.2 240 17 9 9.0 4.9
12000 3.5 38.3 260 23 12 7.8 4.3 | 4.3 39.7 235 17 9 8.8 4.8
11500 4.6 40.3 255 21 11 7.8 4.3 | 5.6 42.1 230 18 9 9.0 4.9
11000 5.8 42.4 250 19 10 7.6 4.2 | 6.8 44.2 225 18 9 7.3 4.0
10500 6.9 44.4 245 18 9 8.3 4.6 | 7.8 46.0 220 18 9 8.2 4.5
10250 7.4 45.3 245 17 9 4.9 2.7 | 8.4 47.1 220 17 9 4.6 2.6
10000 7.7 45.9 245 16 8 6.0 3.3 | 8.6 47.5 215 17 9 4.9 2.7
9750 8.4 47.1 245 15 7 10.2 5.6 | 9.2 48.6 210 16 8 8.5 4.6
9500 9.1 48.4 245 13 7 9.5 5.2 | 9.8 49.6 205 15 8 8.0 4.4
9250 9.7 49.5 240 12 6 6.0 3.3 | 10.3 50.5 205 14 7 3.8 2.1
9000 10.1 50.2 240 10 5 5.2 2.8 | 10.3 50.5 200 12 6 -1.7 -0.9
8750 10.6 51.1 240 8 4 8.3 4.5 | 10.1 50.2 190 10 5 -2.2 -1.2
8500 11.1 52.0 240 6 3 6.8 3.7 | 10.0 50.0 175 7 4 -1.0 -0.5
8250 11.5 52.7 235 4 2 3.5 1.9 | 10.1 50.2 150 6 3 4.9 2.7
8000 11.7 53.1 195 1 1 0.9 0.5 | 10.6 51.1 120 6 3 8.7 4.8
7750 11.7 53.1 100 2 1 -0.0 -0.0 | 11.2 52.2 110 7 4 8.8 4.8
7500 11.7 53.1 085 5 3 -0.5 -0.3 | 11.9 53.4 105 7 4 9.7 5.3
7250 11.6 52.9 080 7 4 0.0 0.0 | 12.6 54.7 100 7 4 10.1 5.5
7000 11.6 52.9 075 9 5 0.1 0.1 | 13.4 56.1 100 7 4 10.2 5.6
6750 11.6 52.9 075 11 6 -0.8 -0.4 | 14.1 57.4 100 7 4 10.0 5.5
6500 11.6 52.9 075 11 6 5.9 3.2 | 14.9 58.8 100 7 4 10.8 5.9
6250 12.4 54.3 080 11 6 11.9 6.5 | 15.8 60.4 095 7 4 11.9 6.5
6000 13.2 55.8 080 10 5 9.5 5.2 | 16.6 61.9 095 7 4 10.4 5.7
5750 13.9 57.0 085 10 5 12.2 6.7 | 17.4 63.3 095 7 4 14.1 7.8
5500 15.1 59.2 085 9 5 19.4 10.7 | 18.9 66.0 095 7 4 26.6 14.6
05/18/2024 at 1500 MDT | 05/18/2024 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +20.1 LI... +0.3 | CAPE... +840.0 LI... -3.4
CINH... -51.0 K Index... +26.0 | CINH... -78.7 K Index... +24.9
|
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 -57.4 -71.3 250 40 20 1.0 0.6 | -57.4 -71.3 250 41 21 1.7 0.9
45000 -56.6 -69.9 245 46 24 -2.4 -1.3 | -55.7 -68.3 250 48 25 -2.8 -1.5
40000 -60.2 -76.4 230 56 29 -3.0 -1.6 | -59.9 -75.8 245 52 27 -3.4 -1.9
38000 -57.5 -71.5 225 52 27 6.1 3.3 | -57.2 -71.0 235 51 26 6.1 3.3
36000 -53.4 -64.1 220 44 23 6.0 3.3 | -53.6 -64.5 225 50 26 6.1 3.4
34000 -48.5 -55.3 215 41 21 9.5 5.2 | -49.0 -56.2 220 50 26 9.2 5.1
32000 -42.8 -45.0 215 38 20 9.5 5.2 | -42.8 -45.0 225 49 25 9.2 5.1
30000 -37.4 -35.3 215 36 19 8.9 4.9 | -37.9 -36.2 230 47 24 7.3 4.0
29000 -34.7 -30.5 215 36 18 8.9 4.9 | -35.8 -32.4 240 45 23 7.3 4.0
28000 -32.1 -25.8 215 35 18 8.9 4.9 | -33.6 -28.5 245 44 23 7.2 4.0
27000 -29.6 -21.3 220 34 18 8.1 4.4 | -31.2 -24.2 245 43 22 8.5 4.7
26000 -27.2 -17.0 220 33 17 8.0 4.4 | -28.6 -19.5 250 41 21 8.5 4.7
25000 -24.8 -12.6 220 31 16 8.1 4.4 | -26.1 -15.0 250 40 21 8.5 4.7
24000 -22.5 -8.5 225 30 15 7.1 3.9 | -23.7 -10.7 250 38 20 7.2 4.0
23000 -20.4 -4.7 225 28 14 7.2 3.9 | -21.5 -6.7 250 35 18 7.3 4.0
22000 -17.8 -0.0 230 25 13 7.3 4.0 | -19.4 -2.9 245 32 16 7.3 4.0
21000 -15.8 3.6 235 24 12 6.3 3.5 | -17.3 0.9 245 31 16 7.0 3.8
20000 -14.0 6.8 240 22 11 6.4 3.5 | -15.2 4.6 250 32 17 7.0 3.8
19500 -13.1 8.4 245 21 11 6.4 3.5 | -14.2 6.4 255 33 17 7.0 3.9
19000 -12.1 10.2 245 21 11 6.3 3.5 | -13.2 8.2 260 34 17 7.2 3.9
18500 -11.2 11.8 250 20 10 6.3 3.4 | -12.1 10.2 260 35 18 7.8 4.3
18000 -10.3 13.5 250 19 10 6.2 3.4 | -10.9 12.4 260 36 19 7.8 4.3
17500 -9.4 15.1 255 18 9 6.5 3.6 | -9.2 15.4 265 35 18 8.2 4.5
17000 -8.5 16.7 255 18 9 6.5 3.6 | -8.0 17.6 265 33 17 8.2 4.5
16500 -7.5 18.5 260 18 9 6.0 3.3 | -6.8 19.8 265 30 16 8.0 4.4
16000 -6.7 19.9 260 18 9 5.8 3.2 | -5.7 21.7 265 28 15 8.1 4.4
15500 -5.9 21.4 260 17 9 5.8 3.2 | -4.5 23.9 265 26 13 8.2 4.5
15000 -5.0 23.0 265 17 9 6.1 3.3 | -3.3 26.1 260 24 12 8.3 4.6
14500 -4.1 24.6 265 17 9 6.1 3.3 | -2.1 28.2 255 21 11 8.4 4.6
14000 -3.2 26.2 265 17 9 6.4 3.5 | -0.9 30.4 255 20 10 8.5 4.6
13500 -2.3 27.9 260 17 8 6.4 3.5 | 0.4 32.7 250 19 10 8.5 4.6
13000 -1.4 29.5 255 16 8 6.3 3.4 | 1.6 34.9 245 18 9 8.0 4.4
12500 -0.5 31.1 255 17 9 6.2 3.4 | 2.8 37.0 245 18 9 8.1 4.5
12000 0.5 32.9 250 17 9 7.8 4.3 | 4.0 39.2 245 17 9 7.7 4.2
11500 1.7 35.1 245 17 9 8.0 4.4 | 5.1 41.2 240 16 8 7.7 4.2
11000 2.8 37.0 240 17 9 7.2 4.0 | 6.3 43.3 235 15 8 7.7 4.2
10500 3.8 38.8 230 18 9 7.2 4.0 | 7.4 45.3 225 14 7 8.2 4.5
10250 4.3 39.7 225 18 9 6.7 3.7 | 8.0 46.4 225 14 7 5.9 3.2
10000 4.8 40.6 225 19 10 6.1 3.3 | 8.3 46.9 220 15 8 6.6 3.6
9750 5.2 41.4 220 19 10 6.3 3.5 | 9.0 48.2 215 15 8 9.1 5.0
9500 5.7 42.3 220 19 10 6.0 3.3 | 9.6 49.3 210 16 8 9.0 4.9
9250 6.1 43.0 215 20 10 7.0 3.9 | 10.2 50.4 210 17 9 6.9 3.8
9000 6.7 44.1 215 20 10 7.1 3.9 | 10.6 51.1 205 18 9 5.9 3.2
8750 7.1 44.8 215 20 10 6.0 3.3 | 11.2 52.2 205 19 10 7.5 4.1
8500 7.5 45.5 210 20 10 5.9 3.2 | 11.7 53.1 205 20 10 7.1 3.9
8250 8.0 46.4 210 19 10 7.3 4.0 | 12.2 54.0 200 21 11 6.5 3.6
8000 8.9 48.0 200 18 10 4.4 2.4 | 12.6 54.7 200 23 12 5.8 3.2
7750 9.2 48.6 200 18 9 3.4 1.9 | 13.0 55.4 200 24 13 6.0 3.3
7500 9.4 48.9 195 18 9 4.1 2.3 | 13.4 56.1 200 26 13 5.3 2.9
7250 9.7 49.5 195 18 10 4.6 2.5 | 13.7 56.7 195 26 13 3.8 2.1
7000 9.9 49.8 195 19 10 2.1 1.2 | 13.8 56.8 195 26 14 3.8 2.1
6750 10.0 50.0 195 19 10 3.5 1.9 | 14.0 57.2 190 26 14 0.9 0.5
6500 10.5 50.9 195 19 10 6.9 3.8 | 14.0 57.2 185 26 13 5.6 3.1
6250 10.9 51.6 195 19 10 6.2 3.4 | 14.7 58.5 185 24 12 11.7 6.4
6000 11.3 52.3 190 20 10 5.9 3.2 | 15.4 59.7 180 22 11 9.9 5.4
5750 11.8 53.2 190 18 9 10.1 5.5 | 16.2 61.2 180 20 10 10.7 5.9
5500 13.3 55.9 190 14 7 37.0 20.3 | 17.0 62.6 175 18 9 12.7 7.0
________________________________________________________________________________
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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