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Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
000
UXUS97 KPUB 191219
SRGPUB
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado
0618 MDT Friday, April 19, 2024
This forecast is for the Air Force Academy for Friday, April 19, 2024:
If the trigger temperature of 56.8 F/13.8 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Poor
Maximum rate of lift........................ 0 ft/min (0.0 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 10528 ft MSL (2936 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 53.0 F/12.1 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... None
Time of overdevelopment........................ 1600 MDT
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... Broken/overcast opaque middle
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 9845 ft MSL (2253 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Saturday 04/20..... Poor
Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:15:44 / 19:40:44 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 13 hr 25 min 0 sec (805 min 0 sec)
Altitude of sun at 12:58:14 MDT... 62.56 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 04/19/2024 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 9421 ft MSL (1829 ft AGL)
Additional freezing level....... 12309 ft MSL (4717 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 16726 ft MSL (9134 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 14826 ft MSL (7235 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +5.1
K index......................... +12.1
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 -59.8 -75.6 265 58 30 2.1 1.2 M M M M M
45000 -56.9 -70.4 260 62 32 -1.5 -0.8 M M M M M
40000 -58.5 -73.3 260 74 38 -1.2 -0.6 M M M M M
38000 -56.7 -70.1 260 74 38 5.7 3.1 M M M M M
36000 -52.8 -63.0 260 72 37 5.7 3.1 M M M M M
34000 -49.2 -56.6 260 66 34 6.5 3.6 M M M M M
32000 -45.3 -49.5 260 55 28 6.5 3.6 M M M M M
30000 -41.0 -41.8 265 47 24 8.5 4.7 27.7 81.9 12.4 M M
29000 -38.4 -37.1 265 47 24 8.5 4.7 27.2 80.9 12.1 M M
28000 -35.9 -32.6 265 47 24 8.5 4.7 26.8 80.2 11.9 M M
27000 -33.4 -28.1 265 47 24 8.1 4.4 26.4 79.5 11.7 M M
26000 -31.0 -23.8 265 47 24 8.0 4.4 25.6 78.2 11.3 M M
25000 -28.6 -19.5 260 47 24 8.1 4.4 25.0 77.1 10.9 M M
24000 -26.2 -15.2 260 46 24 6.8 3.7 24.5 76.1 10.6 M M
23000 -24.5 -12.1 265 47 24 5.7 3.1 22.9 73.3 9.4 M M
22000 -22.8 -9.0 265 47 24 5.7 3.1 21.5 70.7 8.3 M M
21000 -20.4 -4.7 265 46 24 7.8 4.3 20.1 68.1 7.1 M M
20000 -18.1 -0.6 260 44 22 7.8 4.3 19.3 66.8 6.5 M M
19500 -17.0 1.4 255 42 22 7.8 4.3 19.0 66.2 6.3 M M
19000 -15.8 3.6 255 41 21 7.8 4.3 18.7 65.7 6.0 M M
18500 -14.7 5.5 255 41 21 6.9 3.8 18.3 65.0 5.7 M M
18000 -13.7 7.3 255 41 21 7.0 3.8 17.9 64.1 5.3 M M
17500 -12.6 9.3 260 42 22 7.7 4.2 17.4 63.4 5.0 M M
17000 -11.3 11.7 260 45 23 8.1 4.5 17.1 62.9 4.8 M M
16500 -10.1 13.8 260 48 25 8.1 4.4 16.9 62.4 4.6 M M
16000 -9.0 15.8 260 50 26 7.2 4.0 16.5 61.7 4.3 M M
15500 -7.9 17.8 260 51 26 7.4 4.1 16.1 61.0 3.9 M M
15000 -6.9 19.6 260 51 26 6.9 3.8 15.7 60.3 3.5 M M
14500 -5.9 21.4 265 49 25 7.1 3.9 15.3 59.5 3.0 M M
14000 -4.9 23.2 265 47 24 9.0 4.9 14.9 58.9 2.6 M M
13500 -3.5 25.7 265 45 23 9.5 5.2 14.9 58.8 2.6 M M
13000 -2.1 28.2 270 44 22 10.0 5.5 14.9 58.8 2.5 M M
12500 -0.6 30.9 270 44 23 9.2 5.0 14.9 58.8 2.6 M M
12000 0.8 33.4 270 44 23 7.8 4.3 14.8 58.7 2.5 M M
11750 1.3 34.3 265 43 22 5.4 3.0 14.5 58.1 2.2 M M
11500 1.7 35.1 265 43 22 6.9 3.8 14.2 57.6 1.9 M M
11250 2.4 36.3 265 42 22 11.6 6.4 14.2 57.5 1.9 M M
11000 3.1 37.6 265 41 21 4.5 2.5 14.2 57.6 1.9 M M
10750 3.0 37.4 265 39 20 -3.9 -2.1 13.3 55.9 1.1 M M
10500 2.7 36.9 260 36 19 -4.2 -2.3 12.3 54.1 0.1 M M
10250 2.5 36.5 255 34 17 0.8 0.5 11.3 52.3 -0.9 282 1.4
10000 2.6 36.7 250 32 16 -4.9 -2.7 10.6 51.2 -1.6 272 1.4
9750 1.6 34.9 245 29 15 -15.6 -8.6 8.9 48.0 -3.3 294 1.5
9500 0.6 33.1 240 28 14 -11.6 -6.4 7.1 44.8 -5.0 317 1.6
9250 -0.4 31.3 230 26 14 -18.8 -10.3 5.3 41.6 -6.8 340 1.7
9000 -2.0 28.4 220 26 13 -15.0 -8.2 3.0 37.5 -9.1 379 1.9
8750 -2.6 27.3 215 25 13 -5.4 -2.9 1.7 35.1 -10.4 389 2.0
8500 -3.1 26.4 205 24 12 -9.2 -5.1 0.4 32.7 -11.7 399 2.0
8250 -3.7 25.3 195 24 12 -3.4 -1.9 -0.9 30.3 -13.1 408 2.1
8000 -3.6 25.5 195 22 12 5.1 2.8 -1.5 29.3 -13.7 397 2.0
7750 -3.2 26.2 190 18 9 4.5 2.5 -1.8 28.7 -14.1 377 1.9
7500 M M M M M M M M M M M M
7250 M M M M M M M M M M M M
7000 M M M M M M M M M M M M
6750 M M M M M M M M M M M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
04/19/2024 at 0900 MDT | 04/19/2024 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +0.7 | CAPE... +1.1 LI... -0.1
CINH... 0.0 K Index... +12.0 | CINH... -3.8 K Index... +12.6
|
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 -58.7 -73.7 260 59 30 1.5 0.8 | -58.5 -73.3 265 57 29 1.2 0.6
45000 -56.7 -70.1 255 66 34 -1.8 -1.0 | -56.9 -70.4 255 67 34 -2.0 -1.1
40000 -58.9 -74.0 255 70 36 -1.5 -0.9 | -59.8 -75.6 255 68 35 -2.0 -1.1
38000 -57.2 -71.0 255 70 36 5.8 3.2 | -57.9 -72.2 255 69 35 6.5 3.6
36000 -53.2 -63.8 255 69 36 5.8 3.2 | -53.5 -64.3 250 70 36 6.5 3.6
34000 -49.6 -57.3 255 65 33 6.6 3.6 | -49.4 -56.9 250 69 35 7.2 4.0
32000 -45.6 -50.1 255 54 28 6.6 3.6 | -45.1 -49.2 255 64 33 7.2 3.9
30000 -41.2 -42.2 250 47 24 8.3 4.6 | -40.8 -41.4 255 60 31 7.4 4.1
29000 -38.8 -37.8 250 48 25 8.3 4.6 | -38.5 -37.3 255 59 31 7.4 4.1
28000 -36.3 -33.3 255 48 25 8.3 4.6 | -36.3 -33.3 255 58 30 7.4 4.1
27000 -33.8 -28.8 255 48 25 8.7 4.8 | -34.0 -29.2 255 58 30 8.2 4.5
26000 -31.2 -24.2 255 49 25 8.7 4.8 | -31.6 -24.9 260 56 29 8.2 4.5
25000 -28.6 -19.5 255 49 25 8.7 4.8 | -29.1 -20.4 260 55 29 8.2 4.5
24000 -26.0 -14.8 260 50 26 6.8 3.8 | -26.7 -16.1 260 54 28 7.8 4.3
23000 -24.4 -11.9 260 49 25 5.4 2.9 | -24.5 -12.1 260 54 28 7.5 4.1
22000 -22.8 -9.0 260 48 25 5.4 2.9 | -22.3 -8.1 265 54 28 7.5 4.1
21000 -21.2 -6.2 265 47 24 6.5 3.6 | -19.6 -3.3 265 53 28 6.0 3.3
20000 -18.7 -1.7 265 48 25 6.6 3.6 | -17.9 -0.2 265 53 27 6.0 3.3
19500 -17.7 0.1 265 49 25 6.6 3.6 | -17.0 1.4 270 53 27 6.0 3.3
19000 -16.7 1.9 265 49 25 6.6 3.6 | -16.1 3.0 270 53 27 6.0 3.3
18500 -15.7 3.7 265 49 25 7.5 4.1 | -15.1 4.8 270 52 27 6.5 3.6
18000 -14.6 5.7 265 48 25 7.4 4.1 | -14.1 6.6 270 51 26 6.5 3.5
17500 -13.5 7.7 265 47 24 7.4 4.1 | -13.2 8.2 270 50 26 6.4 3.5
17000 -12.4 9.7 270 44 23 7.5 4.1 | -12.2 10.0 270 48 25 6.4 3.5
16500 -11.3 11.7 270 42 21 7.6 4.2 | -11.3 11.7 270 47 24 6.5 3.6
16000 -10.1 13.8 270 40 20 8.1 4.4 | -10.3 13.5 270 44 23 7.2 3.9
15500 -8.8 16.2 270 37 19 8.2 4.5 | -9.3 15.3 270 42 21 7.1 3.9
15000 -7.7 18.1 270 36 19 7.5 4.1 | -8.2 17.2 270 38 20 8.6 4.7
14500 -6.6 20.1 270 35 18 7.6 4.2 | -7.0 19.4 270 35 18 8.6 4.7
14000 -5.4 22.3 270 35 18 7.8 4.3 | -5.8 21.6 270 31 16 8.2 4.5
13500 -4.3 24.3 275 36 18 7.9 4.3 | -4.6 23.7 265 28 14 8.1 4.4
13000 -3.1 26.4 275 36 19 9.7 5.3 | -3.5 25.7 265 25 13 7.8 4.3
12500 -1.7 28.9 280 35 18 8.7 4.8 | -2.2 28.0 265 22 11 9.0 4.9
12000 -0.5 31.1 280 32 17 7.8 4.3 | -0.9 30.4 265 20 10 8.7 4.8
11750 0.0 32.0 280 31 16 6.7 3.7 | -0.3 31.5 265 18 10 8.7 4.8
11500 0.6 33.1 280 30 15 8.0 4.4 | 0.4 32.7 265 17 9 7.7 4.2
11250 1.3 34.3 280 28 14 10.8 5.9 | 0.9 33.6 265 15 8 8.3 4.6
11000 2.0 35.6 285 26 13 5.9 3.2 | 1.5 34.7 265 13 7 3.1 1.7
10750 2.1 35.8 285 25 13 1.7 1.0 | 1.4 34.5 265 11 6 -1.9 -1.1
10500 2.3 36.1 280 23 12 1.2 0.7 | 1.3 34.3 265 10 5 -1.7 -1.0
10250 2.5 36.5 280 22 11 7.4 4.1 | 1.3 34.3 265 8 4 3.5 1.9
10000 3.1 37.6 280 20 11 1.1 0.6 | 1.7 35.1 265 6 3 1.0 0.6
9750 2.5 36.5 275 19 10 -9.9 -5.4 | 1.4 34.5 245 4 2 -5.4 -2.9
9500 1.9 35.4 270 17 9 -7.9 -4.3 | 1.0 33.8 220 4 2 -5.2 -2.8
9250 1.4 34.5 265 15 8 -5.0 -2.7 | 0.7 33.3 190 4 2 0.5 0.3
9000 1.1 34.0 255 14 7 -5.0 -2.7 | 1.2 34.2 165 6 3 9.4 5.2
8750 0.5 32.9 235 11 6 -8.4 -4.6 | 1.9 35.4 160 6 3 9.6 5.2
8500 -0.1 31.8 210 10 5 -9.0 -4.9 | 2.6 36.7 155 6 3 9.6 5.3
8250 -0.7 30.7 190 12 6 -3.2 -1.8 | 3.3 37.9 150 7 3 9.2 5.1
8000 -0.3 31.5 185 11 6 13.3 7.3 | 4.2 39.6 150 7 3 17.2 9.4
7750 1.1 34.0 180 11 5 22.0 12.1 | 6.1 43.0 145 7 3 31.3 17.2
7500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
7250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
7000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
6750 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
04/19/2024 at 1500 MDT | 04/19/2024 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +3.6 LI... -0.6 | CAPE... +13.8 LI... +1.0
CINH... 0.0 K Index... +19.0 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... +13.7
|
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 -57.5 -71.5 265 52 27 1.3 0.7 | -57.1 -70.8 265 47 24 1.4 0.8
45000 -55.6 -68.1 260 63 32 -1.3 -0.7 | -55.2 -67.4 260 58 30 -2.1 -1.1
40000 -57.5 -71.5 250 71 37 -1.3 -0.7 | -58.5 -73.3 260 78 40 -2.2 -1.2
38000 -55.9 -68.6 250 73 38 4.5 2.5 | -57.2 -71.0 260 81 42 4.5 2.5
36000 -53.2 -63.8 250 74 38 4.5 2.5 | -54.5 -66.1 260 79 41 4.5 2.5
34000 -50.1 -58.2 250 72 37 6.7 3.7 | -51.5 -60.7 260 75 39 6.2 3.4
32000 -46.1 -51.0 255 67 35 6.7 3.7 | -47.7 -53.9 260 66 34 6.2 3.4
30000 -41.8 -43.2 255 63 32 7.9 4.3 | -43.3 -45.9 265 58 30 9.5 5.2
29000 -39.5 -39.1 260 61 32 7.9 4.3 | -40.5 -40.9 265 57 29 9.6 5.2
28000 -37.1 -34.8 260 60 31 7.9 4.3 | -37.6 -35.7 265 56 29 9.6 5.3
27000 -34.8 -30.6 260 59 30 7.9 4.4 | -34.8 -30.6 265 54 28 8.6 4.7
26000 -32.4 -26.3 265 59 31 8.0 4.4 | -32.3 -26.1 265 55 28 8.5 4.6
25000 -30.0 -22.0 265 60 31 8.0 4.4 | -29.8 -21.6 265 55 28 8.5 4.6
24000 -27.6 -17.7 265 61 31 7.8 4.3 | -27.3 -17.1 265 55 28 8.2 4.5
23000 -25.4 -13.7 265 60 31 7.5 4.1 | -24.9 -12.8 265 54 28 8.0 4.4
22000 -22.6 -8.7 270 58 30 7.5 4.1 | -21.9 -7.4 260 52 27 8.0 4.4
21000 -20.5 -4.9 270 57 29 6.8 3.7 | -19.7 -3.5 260 52 27 6.9 3.8
20000 -18.5 -1.3 265 55 28 6.8 3.7 | -17.6 0.3 260 52 27 6.9 3.8
19500 -17.4 0.7 265 53 27 6.8 3.7 | -16.6 2.1 260 52 27 6.9 3.8
19000 -16.4 2.5 265 52 27 6.7 3.7 | -15.6 3.9 255 52 27 6.9 3.8
18500 -15.4 4.3 265 50 26 7.8 4.3 | -14.6 5.7 255 52 27 6.7 3.7
18000 -14.2 6.4 265 46 24 7.8 4.3 | -13.6 7.5 255 52 27 6.8 3.7
17500 -13.1 8.4 260 42 22 7.6 4.2 | -12.6 9.3 255 52 27 7.1 3.9
17000 -12.1 10.2 260 39 20 7.5 4.1 | -11.5 11.3 255 50 26 7.4 4.0
16500 -11.0 12.2 255 36 18 7.6 4.2 | -10.4 13.3 250 49 25 7.6 4.2
16000 -9.8 14.4 255 33 17 8.6 4.7 | -9.1 15.6 250 46 24 9.4 5.1
15500 -8.6 16.5 255 31 16 8.5 4.7 | -7.8 18.0 250 43 22 9.3 5.1
15000 -7.3 18.9 250 29 15 8.9 4.9 | -6.4 20.5 245 41 21 8.9 4.9
14500 -6.0 21.2 250 27 14 9.0 4.9 | -5.1 22.8 245 38 20 9.0 5.0
14000 -4.7 23.5 250 25 13 6.7 3.7 | -4.0 24.8 240 36 18 3.0 1.6
13500 -3.9 25.0 245 21 11 5.7 3.1 | -4.0 24.8 235 32 16 0.3 0.2
13000 -3.1 26.4 240 17 9 1.6 0.9 | -4.0 24.8 225 29 15 -4.0 -2.2
12500 -3.4 25.9 230 11 6 -2.6 -1.4 | -5.2 22.6 205 20 10 -5.3 -2.9
12000 -3.9 25.0 210 6 3 -3.3 -1.8 | -5.9 21.4 190 15 8 -1.1 -0.6
11750 -4.2 24.4 190 4 2 -4.9 -2.7 | -5.7 21.7 180 14 7 4.6 2.5
11500 -4.5 23.9 140 3 2 -2.0 -1.1 | -5.4 22.3 170 13 7 3.5 1.9
11250 -4.5 23.9 090 5 3 1.1 0.6 | -5.2 22.6 160 13 7 2.8 1.5
11000 -4.3 24.3 075 8 4 5.2 2.9 | -5.0 23.0 145 14 7 2.3 1.3
10750 -3.7 25.3 075 9 5 9.2 5.0 | -4.8 23.4 135 12 6 2.4 1.3
10500 -3.1 26.4 070 9 5 8.2 4.5 | -4.6 23.7 120 11 5 2.3 1.3
10250 -2.4 27.7 070 9 5 9.6 5.3 | -4.5 23.9 105 10 5 2.7 1.5
10000 -1.6 29.1 065 10 5 10.3 5.6 | -4.3 24.3 085 10 5 2.3 1.3
9750 -0.9 30.4 060 10 5 9.7 5.3 | -4.1 24.6 065 10 5 1.6 0.9
9500 -0.2 31.6 055 10 5 9.7 5.3 | -4.0 24.8 050 11 5 1.8 1.0
9250 0.6 33.1 055 11 5 10.2 5.6 | -3.9 25.0 035 12 6 1.7 1.0
9000 1.3 34.3 050 11 6 10.4 5.7 | -3.6 25.5 030 13 7 5.4 2.9
8750 2.1 35.8 050 11 6 10.1 5.5 | -3.1 26.4 020 14 7 8.1 4.5
8500 2.8 37.0 050 11 6 9.9 5.4 | -2.6 27.3 015 15 8 7.3 4.0
8250 3.6 38.5 045 11 6 11.0 6.0 | -2.0 28.4 010 15 8 8.0 4.4
8000 4.7 40.5 045 11 6 18.6 10.2 | -1.3 29.7 005 15 8 12.8 7.0
7750 6.4 43.5 045 11 5 27.5 15.1 | -0.1 31.8 005 13 7 19.3 10.6
7500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
7250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
7000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
6750 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
________________________________________________________________________________
This product is issued twice per day, once by approximately 0630 MST/0730 MDT
(1330 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 Air Force Academy
in Colorado Springs, Colorado at
North Latitude: 38 deg 58 min 48.000 sec
West Longitude: 104 deg 49 min 12.000 sec
Elevation: 6572 feet (2003 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.
CIN (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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- National Weather Service
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- Page last modified: Sep 19th, 2023 19:10 UTC