Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
760
UXUS97 KBOU 231254
SRGBOU
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, Colorado
0646 MDT Sunday, June 23, 2024
This forecast is for Sunday, June 23, 2024:
If the trigger temperature of 84.1 F/29.0 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1210 ft/min (6.1 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 18635 ft MSL (13311 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 96.0 F/36.0 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0930 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................. 16789 ft MSL (11465 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Monday 06/24....... 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....................... 17405 ft MSL (12081 ft AGL)
Wave soaring outlook for Monday 06/24.......... Poor
Remarks... Stray shower or two late this afternoon
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:32:20 / 20:31:27 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 59 min 7 sec (899 min 7 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:01:54 MDT... 73.64 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 06/23/2024 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 15686 ft MSL (10362 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 20156 ft MSL (14832 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 19583 ft MSL (14259 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +0.1
K index......................... +14.0
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 -62.2 -80.0 275 52 27 2.7 1.5 M M M M M
45000 -57.3 -71.1 270 66 34 4.5 2.5 M M M M M
40000 -50.2 -58.4 265 69 35 6.0 3.3 M M M M M
38000 -46.6 -51.9 265 59 31 6.1 3.3 M M M M M
36000 -42.5 -44.5 270 49 25 6.2 3.4 M M M M M
34000 -38.7 -37.7 270 37 19 6.3 3.5 M M M M M
32000 -34.9 -30.8 275 26 13 6.5 3.6 M M M M M
30000 -30.4 -22.7 275 20 10 7.6 4.2 45.1 113.3 7.3 M M
29000 -28.1 -18.6 280 18 9 7.6 4.2 44.4 111.9 6.8 M M
28000 -25.8 -14.4 280 15 8 8.2 4.5 43.7 110.7 6.3 M M
27000 -23.3 -9.9 285 14 7 8.2 4.5 43.0 109.4 5.9 M M
26000 -20.8 -5.4 295 12 6 8.2 4.5 42.4 108.4 5.5 M M
25000 -18.4 -1.1 300 11 6 8.1 4.5 42.0 107.5 5.1 M M
24000 -16.0 3.2 310 11 6 8.0 4.4 41.2 106.2 4.6 M M
23000 -13.6 7.5 315 11 5 8.0 4.4 40.6 105.1 4.1 M M
22000 -11.1 12.0 325 11 6 7.5 4.1 40.1 104.1 3.7 M M
21000 -9.1 15.6 320 11 6 6.7 3.7 38.9 102.1 2.8 M M
20000 -7.1 19.2 315 12 6 6.7 3.7 37.9 100.2 1.9 M M
19500 -5.6 21.9 315 12 6 5.6 3.1 37.1 98.9 1.3 M M
19000 -5.0 23.0 310 13 7 4.4 2.4 36.2 97.1 0.4 M M
18500 -4.4 24.1 310 14 7 4.4 2.4 35.3 95.5 -0.4 1194 6.1
18000 -3.8 25.2 310 14 7 4.8 2.6 34.4 93.9 -1.3 1160 5.9
17500 -3.1 26.4 310 15 8 4.9 2.7 33.5 92.3 -2.1 1125 5.7
17000 -2.4 27.7 315 15 8 5.7 3.1 32.7 90.9 -2.9 1090 5.5
16500 -1.5 29.3 320 15 8 6.7 3.7 32.2 89.9 -3.4 1047 5.3
16000 -0.5 31.1 325 14 7 6.8 3.7 31.7 89.0 -3.9 1003 5.1
15500 0.6 33.1 330 14 7 8.7 4.8 31.3 88.4 -4.3 954 4.8
15000 1.9 35.4 335 13 7 8.5 4.7 31.1 88.0 -4.5 902 4.6
14500 3.2 37.8 340 13 7 9.0 4.9 31.0 87.7 -4.7 849 4.3
14000 4.5 40.1 345 12 6 9.0 5.0 30.8 87.5 -4.9 794 4.0
13500 5.9 42.6 345 12 6 8.9 4.9 30.7 87.3 -5.0 739 3.8
13000 7.2 45.0 345 11 6 8.9 4.9 30.6 87.1 -5.2 684 3.5
12500 8.5 47.3 345 10 5 9.1 5.0 30.5 86.8 -5.3 630 3.2
12000 9.9 49.8 340 9 5 9.3 5.1 30.4 86.7 -5.5 574 2.9
11500 11.3 52.3 340 9 4 9.1 5.0 30.3 86.6 -5.6 518 2.6
11000 12.6 54.7 335 8 4 8.6 4.7 30.2 86.3 -5.7 463 2.4
10500 13.9 57.0 330 8 4 4.0 2.2 30.1 86.1 -5.9 408 2.1
10250 14.0 57.2 330 7 4 5.7 3.1 29.4 85.0 -6.5 397 2.0
10000 14.9 58.8 325 8 4 13.0 7.1 29.6 85.2 -6.4 364 1.8
9750 15.7 60.3 325 8 4 11.6 6.4 29.7 85.5 -6.3 331 1.7
9500 16.6 61.9 320 9 5 9.6 5.3 29.9 85.7 -6.2 298 1.5
9250 17.1 62.8 320 9 5 6.6 3.6 29.7 85.4 -6.4 274 1.4
9000 17.7 63.9 320 9 5 9.3 5.1 29.5 85.1 -6.6 250 1.3
8750 18.5 65.3 315 10 5 11.3 6.2 29.6 85.2 -6.5 219 1.1
8500 19.3 66.7 310 11 6 9.0 5.0 29.6 85.4 -6.5 188 1.0
8250 19.8 67.6 310 11 6 6.9 3.8 29.5 85.1 -6.7 165 0.8
8000 20.4 68.7 310 12 6 7.9 4.3 29.3 84.7 -6.9 141 0.7
7750 21.0 69.8 305 12 6 8.9 4.9 29.2 84.5 -7.0 115 0.6
7500 21.6 70.9 300 13 7 6.5 3.6 29.1 84.3 -7.2 90 0.5
7250 21.9 71.4 295 13 7 4.4 2.4 28.7 83.7 -7.6 72 0.4
7000 22.3 72.1 295 14 7 5.3 2.9 28.3 83.0 -8.0 54 0.3
6750 22.6 72.7 290 14 7 2.4 1.3 27.9 82.3 -8.4 37 0.2
6500 22.5 72.5 280 13 6 -2.8 -1.6 27.1 80.9 -9.2 32 0.2
6250 22.2 72.0 275 12 6 -5.8 -3.2 26.1 78.9 -10.4 35 0.2
6000 21.8 71.2 265 11 6 -0.8 -0.4 25.0 77.0 -11.5 39 0.2
5750 21.6 70.9 260 11 5 -10.8 -5.9 24.1 75.4 -12.4 37 0.2
5500 19.6 67.3 240 7 4 -41.1 -22.5 21.4 70.5 -15.2 90 0.5
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
06/23/2024 at 0900 MDT | 06/23/2024 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... +3.2 LI... +2.2 | CAPE... +1.0 LI... +1.5
CINH... -19.6 K Index... +15.6 | CINH... -4.5 K Index... +18.3
|
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 -62.2 -80.0 275 47 24 3.1 1.7 | -62.5 -80.5 275 43 22 3.1 1.7
45000 -56.8 -70.2 270 60 31 4.6 2.5 | -56.8 -70.2 270 56 29 5.0 2.7
40000 -49.4 -56.9 265 63 32 5.5 3.0 | -48.9 -56.0 265 60 31 5.3 2.9
38000 -46.1 -51.0 265 54 28 5.5 3.0 | -45.8 -50.4 265 53 28 5.3 2.9
36000 -42.8 -45.0 270 46 24 5.7 3.1 | -42.6 -44.7 260 47 24 5.6 3.1
34000 -39.0 -38.2 270 36 19 6.4 3.5 | -38.5 -37.3 260 38 20 6.9 3.8
32000 -35.2 -31.4 270 27 14 6.3 3.4 | -34.4 -29.9 260 30 15 6.8 3.7
30000 -30.8 -23.4 265 22 11 7.5 4.1 | -30.3 -22.5 255 24 12 6.8 3.7
29000 -28.0 -18.4 265 19 10 7.5 4.1 | -27.8 -18.0 250 21 11 6.8 3.7
28000 -25.7 -14.3 260 16 8 8.4 4.6 | -25.6 -14.1 245 19 10 8.4 4.6
27000 -23.2 -9.8 260 15 7 8.3 4.6 | -23.1 -9.6 245 18 9 8.3 4.5
26000 -20.7 -5.3 260 13 6 8.3 4.6 | -20.7 -5.3 240 16 8 8.3 4.5
25000 -18.2 -0.8 260 11 6 8.2 4.5 | -18.2 -0.8 240 14 7 8.1 4.4
24000 -15.8 3.6 265 9 5 8.1 4.4 | -15.8 3.6 240 13 7 7.9 4.3
23000 -13.4 7.9 275 8 4 8.1 4.4 | -13.5 7.7 235 11 6 7.9 4.3
22000 -11.0 12.2 285 6 3 6.8 3.7 | -11.1 12.0 235 10 5 6.5 3.6
21000 -9.3 15.3 295 7 4 5.9 3.3 | -9.5 14.9 245 9 5 5.7 3.1
20000 -7.5 18.5 305 8 4 6.0 3.3 | -7.8 18.0 260 8 4 5.8 3.2
19500 -6.6 20.1 305 8 4 5.9 3.3 | -6.9 19.6 265 8 4 5.7 3.1
19000 -5.9 21.4 310 9 5 4.4 2.4 | -6.3 20.7 275 9 4 4.2 2.3
18500 -5.3 22.5 310 10 5 4.6 2.5 | -5.7 21.7 285 9 5 4.4 2.4
18000 -4.6 23.7 315 10 5 4.7 2.6 | -5.1 22.8 290 10 5 5.8 3.2
17500 -3.9 25.0 320 10 5 4.9 2.7 | -4.2 24.4 290 10 5 6.4 3.5
17000 -3.3 26.1 325 10 5 5.0 2.7 | -3.3 26.1 295 10 5 6.7 3.7
16500 -2.4 27.7 330 10 5 7.8 4.3 | -2.1 28.2 295 9 5 8.7 4.8
16000 -0.7 30.7 345 9 5 7.9 4.3 | -0.9 30.4 295 8 4 8.5 4.7
15500 0.6 33.1 350 9 4 9.2 5.0 | 1.1 34.0 290 7 4 9.3 5.1
15000 1.9 35.4 355 8 4 9.1 5.0 | 2.5 36.5 290 6 3 9.3 5.1
14500 3.3 37.9 360 8 4 9.5 5.2 | 3.8 38.8 290 6 3 9.5 5.2
14000 4.7 40.5 360 8 4 9.5 5.2 | 5.2 41.4 290 5 3 9.5 5.2
13500 6.1 43.0 360 7 4 9.4 5.2 | 6.7 44.1 290 5 2 9.7 5.3
13000 7.5 45.5 360 7 3 9.4 5.2 | 8.1 46.6 290 5 2 9.7 5.3
12500 8.9 48.0 355 6 3 9.4 5.1 | 9.6 49.3 295 4 2 9.6 5.3
12000 10.2 50.4 350 6 3 9.3 5.1 | 11.0 51.8 295 4 2 9.6 5.2
11500 11.6 52.9 345 6 3 9.2 5.1 | 12.4 54.3 300 4 2 9.5 5.2
11000 13.0 55.4 335 6 3 8.9 4.9 | 13.8 56.8 300 4 2 9.1 5.0
10500 14.3 57.7 330 6 3 4.5 2.5 | 15.2 59.4 295 4 2 4.9 2.7
10250 14.5 58.1 325 5 3 6.1 3.4 | 15.4 59.7 295 4 2 6.5 3.6
10000 15.4 59.7 325 6 3 12.8 7.0 | 16.3 61.3 295 4 2 13.1 7.2
9750 16.2 61.2 320 6 3 11.9 6.5 | 17.1 62.8 295 4 2 12.3 6.7
9500 17.1 62.8 320 7 3 8.7 4.8 | 18.0 64.4 295 4 2 9.1 5.0
9250 17.5 63.5 320 6 3 6.1 3.4 | 18.5 65.3 295 4 2 7.2 4.0
9000 18.1 64.6 315 7 3 9.8 5.4 | 19.2 66.6 295 4 2 11.1 6.1
8750 18.9 66.0 315 7 4 10.9 6.0 | 20.1 68.2 295 3 2 11.7 6.4
8500 19.7 67.5 315 8 4 8.9 4.9 | 20.9 69.6 295 3 2 9.9 5.4
8250 20.2 68.4 310 8 4 7.0 3.8 | 21.5 70.7 295 3 2 7.7 4.2
8000 20.7 69.3 310 8 4 8.6 4.7 | 22.2 72.0 295 3 1 10.3 5.7
7750 21.4 70.5 305 9 4 9.5 5.2 | 23.0 73.4 295 3 1 12.0 6.6
7500 22.0 71.6 305 9 5 7.3 4.0 | 23.8 74.8 295 2 1 9.4 5.2
7250 22.4 72.3 305 9 5 5.9 3.2 | 24.5 76.1 295 2 1 7.6 4.2
7000 22.9 73.2 300 9 5 7.1 3.9 | 25.1 77.2 295 2 1 10.2 5.6
6750 23.4 74.1 300 9 5 7.6 4.2 | 26.0 78.8 295 2 1 13.2 7.2
6500 23.9 75.0 295 8 4 5.8 3.2 | 26.9 80.4 295 2 1 11.1 6.1
6250 24.3 75.7 290 8 4 5.6 3.1 | 27.7 81.9 295 1 1 10.0 5.5
6000 24.7 76.5 280 7 3 4.1 2.2 | 28.4 83.1 295 1 1 9.1 5.0
5750 25.0 77.0 265 6 3 9.4 5.2 | 29.2 84.6 295 1 1 15.9 8.7
5500 26.2 79.2 260 5 3 23.5 12.9 | 31.0 87.8 300 1 1 31.2 17.1
06/23/2024 at 1500 MDT | 06/23/2024 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +6.9 LI... +0.4 | CAPE... +39.5 LI... -0.1
CINH... -2.0 K Index... +18.3 | CINH... -9.9 K Index... +22.5
|
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 -62.9 -81.2 270 43 22 3.2 1.8 | -63.0 -81.4 275 43 22 3.6 2.0
45000 -56.9 -70.4 270 54 28 5.5 3.0 | -56.6 -69.9 275 53 27 5.6 3.1
40000 -48.4 -55.1 265 58 30 5.2 2.9 | -47.9 -54.2 270 61 31 5.2 2.9
38000 -45.2 -49.4 265 52 27 5.2 2.9 | -44.8 -48.6 270 57 29 5.2 2.9
36000 -42.1 -43.8 265 47 24 5.6 3.1 | -41.6 -42.9 265 54 28 5.5 3.0
34000 -38.2 -36.8 265 41 21 6.6 3.6 | -37.9 -36.2 265 47 24 6.3 3.4
32000 -34.2 -29.6 260 35 18 6.5 3.6 | -34.1 -29.4 270 40 21 6.1 3.4
30000 -29.4 -20.9 260 29 15 7.2 4.0 | -29.4 -20.9 270 35 18 7.3 4.0
29000 -27.3 -17.1 260 26 13 7.2 4.0 | -27.2 -17.0 270 33 17 7.3 4.0
28000 -25.1 -13.2 260 24 12 7.6 4.1 | -25.0 -13.0 275 31 16 7.1 3.9
27000 -22.8 -9.0 255 21 11 7.5 4.1 | -22.9 -9.2 275 27 14 7.1 3.9
26000 -20.6 -5.1 255 19 10 7.5 4.1 | -20.8 -5.4 275 24 12 7.2 3.9
25000 -18.3 -0.9 250 17 9 7.3 4.0 | -18.7 -1.7 275 21 11 6.9 3.8
24000 -16.2 2.8 250 17 9 7.2 4.0 | -16.8 1.8 275 19 10 6.7 3.7
23000 -14.1 6.6 255 17 9 7.3 4.0 | -14.8 5.4 275 18 9 6.8 3.7
22000 -12.0 10.4 255 16 8 6.3 3.4 | -12.9 8.8 280 17 9 7.0 3.9
21000 -10.3 13.5 260 15 8 5.8 3.2 | -10.8 12.6 280 15 8 7.1 3.9
20000 -8.7 16.3 265 14 7 5.9 3.2 | -8.7 16.3 275 12 6 7.2 3.9
19500 -7.9 17.8 265 14 7 6.1 3.4 | -7.7 18.1 275 11 6 7.2 4.0
19000 -6.9 19.6 270 13 7 7.9 4.3 | -6.6 20.1 275 10 5 7.8 4.3
18500 -5.7 21.7 270 12 6 7.8 4.3 | -5.5 22.1 275 9 5 7.7 4.3
18000 -4.5 23.9 275 11 6 8.6 4.7 | -4.3 24.3 270 8 4 8.3 4.6
17500 -3.2 26.2 275 11 6 8.9 4.9 | -3.0 26.6 265 7 4 8.5 4.7
17000 -1.9 28.6 280 10 5 9.0 4.9 | -1.8 28.8 260 6 3 8.6 4.7
16500 -0.6 30.9 280 10 5 9.2 5.0 | -0.4 31.3 250 5 3 9.4 5.1
16000 0.8 33.4 280 9 5 9.2 5.0 | 1.0 33.8 245 5 2 9.3 5.1
15500 2.8 37.0 280 7 4 9.1 5.0 | 3.1 37.6 230 4 2 9.6 5.2
15000 4.1 39.4 280 7 3 9.0 4.9 | 4.5 40.1 230 4 2 9.5 5.2
14500 5.5 41.9 280 6 3 9.5 5.2 | 6.0 42.8 225 4 2 9.6 5.3
14000 6.9 44.4 280 5 3 9.5 5.2 | 7.4 45.3 220 4 2 9.6 5.3
13500 8.3 46.9 280 5 2 9.3 5.1 | 8.8 47.8 220 4 2 9.5 5.2
13000 9.7 49.5 275 4 2 9.3 5.1 | 10.2 50.4 215 4 2 9.4 5.2
12500 11.1 52.0 275 4 2 9.5 5.2 | 11.6 52.9 215 3 2 9.5 5.2
12000 12.5 54.5 270 3 2 9.6 5.2 | 13.1 55.6 215 3 2 9.5 5.2
11500 13.9 57.0 270 3 1 9.6 5.3 | 14.5 58.1 215 3 2 9.5 5.2
11000 15.4 59.7 270 2 1 9.4 5.1 | 15.9 60.6 220 3 2 9.1 5.0
10500 16.8 62.2 265 2 1 4.8 2.6 | 17.3 63.1 220 3 2 4.9 2.7
10250 17.0 62.6 270 2 1 6.3 3.5 | 17.5 63.5 225 3 2 6.4 3.5
10000 17.9 64.2 265 2 1 13.3 7.3 | 18.4 65.1 225 3 2 13.0 7.1
9750 18.8 65.8 260 1 1 12.4 6.8 | 19.2 66.6 225 3 2 12.1 6.6
9500 19.7 67.5 250 1 1 8.9 4.9 | 20.1 68.2 225 3 2 9.1 5.0
9250 20.1 68.2 260 1 1 7.2 4.0 | 20.6 69.1 225 3 2 7.6 4.2
9000 20.9 69.6 255 1 0 11.4 6.2 | 21.4 70.5 225 3 2 10.9 6.0
8750 21.8 71.2 230 1 0 12.2 6.7 | 22.2 72.0 225 3 2 11.5 6.3
8500 22.6 72.7 190 1 0 9.8 5.4 | 23.0 73.4 230 4 2 9.8 5.4
8250 23.2 73.8 200 1 0 6.8 3.8 | 23.7 74.7 225 4 2 7.3 4.0
8000 23.8 74.8 000 0 0 10.1 5.5 | 24.3 75.7 225 3 2 9.8 5.4
7750 24.7 76.5 155 1 0 12.7 7.0 | 25.1 77.2 225 4 2 12.3 6.7
7500 25.6 78.1 140 1 1 9.6 5.3 | 26.0 78.8 230 4 2 9.6 5.2
7250 26.1 79.0 135 1 0 6.9 3.8 | 26.5 79.7 230 4 2 7.0 3.8
7000 26.7 80.1 130 1 0 9.8 5.4 | 27.1 80.8 225 4 2 9.4 5.1
6750 27.6 81.7 130 1 1 13.6 7.5 | 28.0 82.4 230 4 2 12.7 7.0
6500 28.6 83.5 125 2 1 11.4 6.2 | 28.9 84.0 230 4 2 10.8 5.9
6250 29.3 84.7 120 2 1 9.5 5.2 | 29.6 85.3 230 4 2 8.7 4.8
6000 30.1 86.2 120 1 1 9.1 5.0 | 30.2 86.4 230 4 2 9.1 5.0
5750 30.9 87.6 120 2 1 15.6 8.5 | 31.0 87.8 230 4 2 11.9 6.5
5500 32.6 90.7 120 2 1 30.5 16.7 | 32.1 89.8 230 3 2 17.4 9.6
________________________________________________________________________________
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.
042613