Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
767
UXUS97 KBOU 120057
SRGBOU
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, Colorado
1840 MDT Tuesday, June 11, 2024
This forecast is for Wednesday, June 12, 2024:
If the trigger temperature of 83.7 F/28.7 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1326 ft/min (6.7 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 19509 ft MSL (14224 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 95.0 F/35.5 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................. 14915 ft MSL (9631 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Thursday 06/13..... 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....................... 14877 ft MSL (9592 ft AGL)
Wave soaring outlook for Thursday 06/13........ Poor
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:30:48 / 20:28:15 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 57 min 26 sec (897 min 26 sec)
Altitude of sun at 12:59:32 MDT... 73.45 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 06/12/2024 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 16131 ft MSL (10846 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 18678 ft MSL (13393 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 19117 ft MSL (13832 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -1.9
K index......................... +14.8
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 -60.0 -76.0 285 28 14 2.6 1.4 M M M M M
45000 -56.7 -70.1 300 28 15 1.0 0.6 M M M M M
40000 -54.2 -65.6 315 29 15 6.9 3.8 M M M M M
38000 -50.0 -58.0 310 27 14 7.0 3.9 M M M M M
36000 -45.8 -50.4 305 27 14 7.0 3.8 M M M M M
34000 -41.1 -42.0 300 27 14 7.8 4.3 M M M M M
32000 -36.4 -33.5 300 28 15 7.8 4.3 M M M M M
30000 -31.3 -24.3 295 25 13 7.5 4.1 43.9 111.0 6.8 M M
29000 -29.1 -20.4 295 24 12 7.5 4.1 43.1 109.6 6.2 M M
28000 -26.9 -16.4 290 22 11 7.7 4.2 42.4 108.3 5.7 M M
27000 -24.5 -12.1 285 21 11 7.7 4.2 41.5 106.6 5.0 M M
26000 -22.2 -8.0 285 21 11 7.7 4.2 40.7 105.3 4.5 M M
25000 -19.9 -3.8 280 21 11 7.6 4.2 40.1 104.1 4.0 M M
24000 -17.8 -0.0 280 20 10 7.2 4.0 39.1 102.3 3.2 M M
23000 -15.6 3.9 290 18 9 7.2 4.0 38.1 100.7 2.5 M M
22000 -13.4 7.9 295 17 9 7.3 4.0 37.3 99.2 1.8 M M
21000 -11.2 11.8 300 17 9 7.4 4.1 36.4 97.6 1.1 M M
20000 -9.0 15.8 305 18 9 7.4 4.1 35.6 96.1 0.4 M M
19500 -7.9 17.8 305 18 9 7.4 4.1 35.2 95.4 0.0 M M
19000 -6.8 19.8 310 18 9 7.6 4.2 34.9 94.8 -0.3 1282 6.5
18500 -5.7 21.7 310 19 10 7.6 4.2 34.5 94.1 -0.7 1233 6.3
18000 -4.6 23.7 310 20 10 7.8 4.3 34.1 93.5 -1.0 1185 6.0
17500 -3.4 25.9 310 22 11 8.0 4.4 33.8 92.9 -1.3 1135 5.8
17000 -2.2 28.0 310 23 12 8.1 4.4 33.5 92.4 -1.6 1084 5.5
16500 -1.1 30.0 305 25 13 7.6 4.2 33.2 91.8 -1.9 1035 5.3
16000 0.1 32.2 305 26 13 7.6 4.2 32.8 91.1 -2.2 987 5.0
15500 1.2 34.2 305 27 14 8.0 4.4 32.5 90.5 -2.6 938 4.8
15000 3.0 37.4 300 29 15 8.2 4.5 32.1 89.8 -3.0 862 4.4
14500 4.1 39.4 300 29 15 7.8 4.3 31.8 89.3 -3.3 813 4.1
14000 5.2 41.4 295 29 15 7.8 4.3 31.5 88.7 -3.7 765 3.9
13500 6.3 43.3 295 28 15 8.0 4.4 31.2 88.2 -4.1 717 3.6
13000 7.5 45.5 295 27 14 8.1 4.4 30.9 87.7 -4.4 668 3.4
12500 8.6 47.5 290 26 13 8.2 4.5 30.7 87.2 -4.8 619 3.1
12000 9.8 49.6 290 23 12 8.4 4.6 30.4 86.8 -5.1 568 2.9
11500 11.0 51.8 290 21 11 8.6 4.7 30.2 86.4 -5.3 518 2.6
11000 12.3 54.1 285 18 9 8.8 4.8 30.1 86.2 -5.5 463 2.4
10500 13.7 56.7 285 15 8 4.0 2.2 30.0 86.0 -5.6 407 2.1
10250 13.8 56.8 285 15 8 5.6 3.1 29.4 84.9 -6.2 396 2.0
10000 14.7 58.5 285 14 7 13.1 7.2 29.5 85.1 -6.1 363 1.8
9750 15.6 60.1 285 14 7 11.7 6.4 29.7 85.4 -6.0 330 1.7
9500 16.4 61.5 285 13 7 9.7 5.3 29.8 85.6 -5.9 296 1.5
9250 17.0 62.6 285 13 7 6.5 3.6 29.6 85.3 -6.1 272 1.4
9000 17.5 63.5 285 13 7 9.1 5.0 29.5 85.0 -6.2 248 1.3
8750 18.3 64.9 290 13 7 11.4 6.3 29.5 85.1 -6.2 217 1.1
8500 19.1 66.4 290 13 7 9.0 5.0 29.6 85.3 -6.1 186 0.9
8250 19.7 67.5 290 13 7 6.0 3.3 29.4 84.9 -6.3 162 0.8
8000 20.1 68.2 290 13 7 7.5 4.1 29.1 84.4 -6.6 140 0.7
7750 20.8 69.4 290 13 7 10.5 5.7 29.1 84.4 -6.7 112 0.6
7500 21.6 70.9 290 13 7 7.3 4.0 29.1 84.4 -6.7 83 0.4
7250 21.9 71.4 290 13 7 4.3 2.4 28.7 83.7 -7.0 64 0.3
7000 22.3 72.1 290 13 7 5.3 2.9 28.4 83.0 -7.4 45 0.2
6750 22.7 72.9 285 13 7 3.6 2.0 28.0 82.4 -7.8 27 0.1
6500 22.8 73.0 280 13 7 -2.4 -1.3 27.3 81.2 -8.5 18 0.1
6250 22.3 72.1 275 12 6 -6.4 -3.5 26.2 79.1 -9.6 23 0.1
6000 21.9 71.4 270 11 6 -3.3 -1.8 25.0 77.1 -10.8 28 0.1
5750 21.5 70.7 260 10 5 -11.4 -6.2 23.9 75.1 -12.0 33 0.2
5500 19.8 67.6 245 8 4 -32.1 -17.6 21.6 70.8 -14.4 77 0.4
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
06/12/2024 at 0900 MDT | 06/12/2024 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... +1.5 LI... +2.7 | CAPE... +3.9 LI... +1.5
CINH... -13.0 K Index... +10.2 | CINH... -21.6 K Index... +14.4
|
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 -60.8 -77.4 285 24 12 2.0 1.1 | -62.0 -79.6 275 22 11 1.8 1.0
45000 -57.3 -71.1 300 27 14 2.6 1.5 | -58.0 -72.4 285 23 12 4.1 2.2
40000 -52.8 -63.0 310 29 15 6.1 3.3 | -51.7 -61.1 295 27 14 5.8 3.2
38000 -49.1 -56.4 305 28 15 6.2 3.4 | -48.1 -54.6 290 28 14 5.9 3.2
36000 -45.4 -49.7 300 28 15 6.1 3.3 | -44.6 -48.3 290 29 15 5.8 3.2
34000 -41.0 -41.8 295 31 16 7.5 4.1 | -40.5 -40.9 295 31 16 7.0 3.9
32000 -35.9 -32.6 295 34 17 7.8 4.3 | -35.7 -32.3 295 33 17 7.2 3.9
30000 -31.4 -24.5 290 31 16 7.5 4.1 | -31.4 -24.5 290 31 16 7.4 4.0
29000 -29.2 -20.6 290 29 15 7.5 4.1 | -29.2 -20.6 290 30 15 7.4 4.0
28000 -27.0 -16.6 285 28 14 7.5 4.1 | -27.0 -16.6 285 29 15 7.7 4.2
27000 -24.7 -12.5 285 26 13 7.5 4.1 | -24.7 -12.5 280 27 14 7.7 4.2
26000 -22.5 -8.5 280 24 13 7.5 4.1 | -22.4 -8.3 280 26 13 7.7 4.2
25000 -20.3 -4.5 275 23 12 7.4 4.1 | -20.1 -4.2 275 25 13 7.6 4.2
24000 -18.1 -0.6 280 21 11 7.3 4.0 | -17.9 -0.2 280 24 12 7.3 4.0
23000 -15.9 3.4 280 19 10 7.3 4.0 | -15.7 3.7 280 23 12 7.3 4.0
22000 -13.7 7.3 285 18 9 7.4 4.1 | -13.6 7.5 285 22 11 7.2 4.0
21000 -11.5 11.3 290 19 10 7.6 4.2 | -11.5 11.3 285 23 12 7.1 3.9
20000 -9.2 15.4 295 20 10 7.6 4.2 | -9.4 15.1 290 24 12 7.1 3.9
19500 -8.0 17.6 295 20 10 7.7 4.2 | -8.3 17.1 295 25 13 7.1 3.9
19000 -6.9 19.6 300 21 11 7.4 4.1 | -7.3 18.9 295 25 13 7.2 4.0
18500 -5.8 21.6 300 22 11 7.4 4.1 | -6.2 20.8 295 26 13 7.3 4.0
18000 -4.7 23.5 300 23 12 7.5 4.1 | -5.2 22.6 295 26 13 7.6 4.2
17500 -3.6 25.5 300 24 12 7.5 4.1 | -4.0 24.8 295 26 13 7.9 4.3
17000 -2.5 27.5 305 25 13 7.5 4.1 | -2.8 27.0 295 26 13 7.9 4.3
16500 -0.8 30.6 305 25 13 7.7 4.2 | -1.0 30.2 300 26 13 8.5 4.7
16000 0.3 32.5 305 26 13 7.7 4.2 | 0.3 32.5 300 26 13 8.5 4.7
15500 1.4 34.5 305 25 13 8.0 4.4 | 1.6 34.9 300 25 13 8.6 4.7
15000 2.6 36.7 305 25 13 8.0 4.4 | 2.9 37.2 300 25 13 8.6 4.7
14500 3.8 38.8 300 24 12 7.7 4.2 | 4.1 39.4 300 25 13 8.7 4.8
14000 4.9 40.8 300 23 12 7.7 4.2 | 5.4 41.7 300 24 12 8.7 4.8
13500 6.0 42.8 300 22 11 7.8 4.3 | 6.7 44.1 300 23 12 8.7 4.8
13000 7.2 45.0 300 21 11 7.9 4.3 | 8.0 46.4 300 22 12 8.7 4.8
12500 8.3 46.9 300 20 10 8.0 4.4 | 9.3 48.7 295 22 11 8.8 4.8
12000 9.5 49.1 300 19 10 8.2 4.5 | 10.6 51.1 295 20 10 8.8 4.8
11500 10.7 51.3 300 18 9 8.3 4.6 | 11.9 53.4 295 19 10 8.8 4.8
11000 12.0 53.6 300 16 8 8.4 4.6 | 13.2 55.8 295 17 9 8.6 4.7
10500 13.3 55.9 300 15 8 3.9 2.1 | 14.5 58.1 295 15 8 4.3 2.3
10250 13.4 56.1 305 15 8 5.4 2.9 | 14.7 58.5 295 15 8 5.9 3.3
10000 14.2 57.6 305 15 8 12.3 6.8 | 15.5 59.9 295 14 7 12.8 7.0
9750 15.0 59.0 305 15 8 11.1 6.1 | 16.3 61.3 295 13 7 11.7 6.4
9500 15.8 60.4 305 15 8 9.1 5.0 | 17.2 63.0 300 12 6 9.1 5.0
9250 16.3 61.3 305 15 8 6.1 3.4 | 17.7 63.9 300 12 6 7.0 3.8
9000 16.9 62.4 305 15 8 8.9 4.9 | 18.4 65.1 300 11 6 10.7 5.9
8750 17.6 63.7 305 15 8 11.1 6.1 | 19.2 66.6 300 11 6 12.3 6.7
8500 18.4 65.1 305 15 8 8.6 4.7 | 20.1 68.2 300 11 5 10.1 5.5
8250 18.9 66.0 305 15 8 5.7 3.1 | 20.7 69.3 300 10 5 7.2 4.0
8000 19.4 66.9 305 15 7 7.5 4.1 | 21.3 70.3 300 10 5 10.1 5.5
7750 20.0 68.0 305 14 7 10.1 5.5 | 22.2 72.0 300 10 5 12.7 7.0
7500 20.7 69.3 305 13 7 6.9 3.8 | 23.1 73.6 300 9 5 9.6 5.2
7250 21.0 69.8 305 12 6 4.0 2.2 | 23.7 74.7 300 9 5 7.0 3.8
7000 21.4 70.5 300 12 6 5.4 3.0 | 24.2 75.6 300 9 5 9.6 5.3
6750 21.8 71.2 300 11 6 7.4 4.1 | 25.1 77.2 300 9 4 13.1 7.2
6500 22.4 72.3 295 10 5 7.8 4.3 | 26.1 79.0 305 8 4 11.3 6.2
6250 22.9 73.2 295 9 4 7.3 4.0 | 26.8 80.2 305 8 4 9.6 5.3
6000 23.4 74.1 290 7 4 6.7 3.7 | 27.5 81.5 305 8 4 9.2 5.0
5750 24.0 75.2 285 6 3 11.2 6.1 | 28.4 83.1 305 7 4 15.6 8.6
5500 25.1 77.2 285 5 3 21.0 11.5 | 30.0 86.0 305 7 3 29.7 16.3
06/12/2024 at 1500 MDT | 06/12/2024 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +58.7 LI... +0.3 | CAPE... +25.9 LI... -0.3
CINH... -27.5 K Index... +20.1 | CINH... -44.8 K Index... +26.0
|
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 -62.3 -80.1 275 24 12 1.4 0.8 | -62.5 -80.5 275 28 14 1.1 0.6
45000 -58.7 -73.7 270 25 13 4.2 2.3 | -59.3 -74.7 270 28 15 4.1 2.3
40000 -51.9 -61.4 275 28 14 6.9 3.8 | -52.6 -62.7 265 31 16 6.4 3.5
38000 -47.7 -53.9 275 30 15 6.9 3.8 | -48.8 -55.8 270 31 16 6.5 3.5
36000 -43.6 -46.5 275 32 16 6.9 3.8 | -44.9 -48.8 270 32 16 6.3 3.5
34000 -39.6 -39.3 280 31 16 6.7 3.7 | -40.1 -40.2 270 30 15 8.2 4.5
32000 -35.1 -31.2 290 31 16 6.9 3.8 | -34.5 -30.1 275 28 14 8.7 4.8
30000 -30.9 -23.6 285 31 16 7.1 3.9 | -29.9 -21.8 275 27 14 7.7 4.2
29000 -28.8 -19.8 280 30 16 7.1 3.9 | -27.6 -17.7 275 27 14 7.8 4.3
28000 -26.6 -15.9 275 30 16 7.7 4.2 | -25.3 -13.5 275 27 14 7.1 3.9
27000 -24.3 -11.7 275 30 15 7.7 4.2 | -23.3 -9.9 275 26 14 7.1 3.9
26000 -22.0 -7.6 275 29 15 7.7 4.2 | -21.2 -6.2 275 26 13 7.1 3.9
25000 -19.7 -3.5 275 28 15 7.4 4.1 | -19.1 -2.4 275 25 13 7.0 3.8
24000 -17.7 0.1 275 27 14 6.9 3.8 | -17.1 1.2 275 24 12 6.8 3.7
23000 -15.6 3.9 275 25 13 6.9 3.8 | -15.1 4.8 275 23 12 6.8 3.7
22000 -13.6 7.5 275 23 12 7.4 4.1 | -13.1 8.4 275 22 11 6.9 3.8
21000 -11.3 11.7 280 22 11 7.9 4.3 | -11.0 12.2 280 22 11 7.1 3.9
20000 -9.0 15.8 280 20 11 7.9 4.3 | -8.9 16.0 280 22 11 7.1 3.9
19500 -7.8 18.0 280 20 10 7.9 4.4 | -7.9 17.8 285 22 11 7.1 3.9
19000 -6.6 20.1 285 20 10 7.8 4.3 | -6.8 19.8 285 22 11 7.7 4.2
18500 -5.5 22.1 285 21 11 7.9 4.3 | -5.7 21.7 285 22 11 7.6 4.2
18000 -4.3 24.3 290 23 12 8.4 4.6 | -4.6 23.7 285 21 11 7.9 4.3
17500 -3.0 26.6 290 23 12 8.7 4.8 | -3.4 25.9 285 21 11 8.1 4.4
17000 -1.7 28.9 290 23 12 8.7 4.8 | -1.6 29.1 290 20 10 8.6 4.7
16500 -0.4 31.3 290 24 12 8.7 4.8 | -0.3 31.5 290 20 10 8.9 4.9
16000 0.9 33.6 295 24 12 8.7 4.8 | 1.0 33.8 290 19 10 8.9 4.9
15500 2.2 36.0 295 23 12 9.0 4.9 | 2.3 36.1 290 18 9 8.6 4.7
15000 3.5 38.3 295 23 12 9.0 5.0 | 3.6 38.5 295 18 9 8.6 4.7
14500 4.8 40.6 295 22 11 9.2 5.1 | 4.9 40.8 295 17 9 8.9 4.9
14000 6.9 44.4 295 21 11 9.4 5.2 | 6.2 43.2 295 16 8 8.9 4.9
13500 8.3 46.9 295 20 10 9.4 5.1 | 7.5 45.5 295 15 8 8.8 4.8
13000 9.7 49.5 300 18 9 9.4 5.1 | 8.8 47.8 295 14 7 8.8 4.8
12500 11.1 52.0 300 17 9 9.1 5.0 | 10.1 50.2 295 13 7 8.7 4.8
12000 12.4 54.3 300 15 8 9.0 4.9 | 11.4 52.5 290 12 6 8.7 4.8
11500 13.7 56.7 300 13 7 9.2 5.0 | 12.7 54.9 285 11 6 8.7 4.8
11000 15.1 59.2 305 12 6 9.2 5.0 | 14.0 57.2 280 11 6 8.6 4.7
10500 16.6 61.9 305 11 6 4.7 2.6 | 15.4 59.7 275 11 6 5.7 3.1
10250 16.8 62.2 305 11 6 6.5 3.6 | 15.7 60.3 275 11 6 7.0 3.8
10000 17.7 63.9 305 11 5 13.6 7.4 | 16.5 61.7 275 11 6 11.8 6.4
9750 18.6 65.5 305 10 5 12.9 7.1 | 17.3 63.1 275 11 6 11.0 6.0
9500 19.5 67.1 310 10 5 8.7 4.7 | 18.1 64.6 275 11 6 9.2 5.0
9250 19.9 67.8 310 10 5 6.6 3.6 | 18.7 65.7 275 11 6 7.6 4.2
9000 20.7 69.3 310 10 5 11.7 6.4 | 19.3 66.7 270 11 6 10.7 5.5
8750 21.6 70.9 310 9 5 13.1 7.2 | 20.1 68.2 270 12 6 11.0 6.0
8500 22.5 72.5 310 9 5 9.8 5.4 | 20.9 69.6 270 12 6 9.5 5.2
8250 23.0 73.4 315 9 5 5.5 3.0 | 21.5 70.7 270 12 6 7.2 3.9
8000 23.6 74.5 315 9 5 10.1 5.6 | 22.1 71.8 270 12 6 9.1 5.0
7750 24.5 76.1 315 9 4 13.8 7.6 | 22.9 73.2 270 13 6 11.4 6.3
7500 25.5 77.9 315 8 4 10.0 5.5 | 23.7 74.7 270 13 7 9.3 5.1
7250 26.1 79.0 320 8 4 7.2 4.0 | 24.3 75.7 270 13 7 7.5 4.1
7000 26.7 80.1 320 8 4 9.9 5.4 | 24.9 76.8 270 14 7 8.8 4.9
6750 27.6 81.7 320 8 4 13.0 7.2 | 25.6 78.1 270 14 7 10.8 6.0
6500 28.5 83.3 320 7 4 10.7 5.9 | 26.4 79.5 270 14 7 9.8 5.4
6250 29.2 84.6 325 7 4 8.7 4.8 | 27.0 80.6 265 14 7 8.4 4.6
6000 29.8 85.6 325 7 4 9.0 5.0 | 27.7 81.9 265 14 7 8.7 4.8
5750 30.7 87.3 325 7 3 15.5 8.5 | 28.4 83.1 265 14 7 9.8 5.4
5500 32.3 90.1 330 6 3 27.1 14.9 | 29.2 84.6 265 13 6 12.1 6.6
________________________________________________________________________________
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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