RSS Feeds
Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
000
UXUS97 KBOU 251333
SRGBOU
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, Colorado
0732 MDT Sunday, October 25, 2020
This forecast is for Sunday, October 25, 2020:
If the trigger temperature of 31.3 F/-0.4 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Poor
Maximum rate of lift........................ 0 ft/min (0.0 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 7253 ft MSL (1968 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 19.0 F/-7.7 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... None
Time of overdevelopment........................ None
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................. None
Thermal soaring outlook for Monday 10/26....... Poor
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....................... 23733 ft MSL (18448 ft AGL)
Wave soaring outlook for Monday 10/26.......... Poor
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 07:21:16 / 18:05:35 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 10 hr 44 min 19 sec (644 min 19 sec)
Altitude of sun at 12:43:26 MDT... 37.64 degrees
Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 10/25/2020 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. Entire airmass below 32 F / 0 C
Convective condensation level... 19910 ft MSL (14625 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 7451 ft MSL (2166 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +27.1
K index......................... -1.0
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 -62.0 -79.6 255 77 40 1.6 0.9 97.3 207.1 59.6 M M
45000 -60.0 -76.0 250 67 35 3.0 1.6 74.6 166.2 50.1 M M
40000 -55.8 -68.4 260 86 44 2.8 1.5 57.6 135.8 42.6 M M
38000 -55.0 -67.0 255 78 40 0.3 0.2 50.4 122.6 38.8 M M
36000 -53.8 -64.8 255 68 35 6.6 3.6 43.6 110.5 35.2 M M
34000 -49.6 -57.3 260 69 35 8.1 4.5 41.2 106.1 34.4 M M
32000 -44.8 -48.6 260 67 35 8.0 4.4 39.6 103.3 34.2 M M
30000 -39.3 -38.7 260 65 33 8.6 4.7 38.5 101.3 34.3 M M
29000 -36.7 -34.1 255 62 32 7.8 4.3 38.0 100.5 34.4 M M
28000 -34.7 -30.5 255 60 31 6.9 3.8 36.9 98.4 33.9 M M
27000 -32.4 -26.3 255 64 33 8.5 4.7 36.1 97.0 33.7 M M
26000 -29.9 -21.8 260 67 35 5.3 2.9 35.5 95.9 33.6 M M
25000 -28.6 -19.5 260 71 37 4.6 2.5 33.5 92.4 32.5 M M
24000 -27.2 -17.0 260 75 39 5.5 3.0 31.6 88.8 31.3 M M
23000 -25.7 -14.3 260 75 39 4.4 2.4 29.8 85.7 30.2 M M
22000 -24.2 -11.6 265 74 38 7.8 4.3 28.1 82.6 29.1 M M
21000 -21.9 -7.4 265 73 38 7.7 4.2 27.4 81.3 28.8 M M
20000 -19.8 -3.6 270 72 37 7.0 3.8 26.5 79.6 28.3 M M
19500 -18.8 -1.8 270 71 36 7.2 3.9 26.0 78.8 28.1 M M
19000 -17.7 0.1 270 69 36 7.2 3.9 25.5 78.0 27.8 M M
18500 -16.7 1.9 270 67 34 7.1 3.9 25.1 77.2 27.6 M M
18000 -15.6 3.9 270 64 33 6.9 3.8 24.6 76.3 27.3 M M
17500 -14.6 5.7 265 61 31 7.0 3.8 24.1 75.4 27.0 M M
17000 -13.6 7.5 265 58 30 7.0 3.8 23.6 74.5 26.7 M M
16500 -12.5 9.5 260 56 29 7.0 3.8 23.2 73.7 26.4 M M
16000 -11.5 11.3 255 53 28 7.0 3.8 22.8 73.0 26.2 M M
15500 -10.5 13.1 255 52 27 7.0 3.9 22.3 72.1 25.9 M M
15000 -9.0 15.8 250 49 25 7.1 3.9 21.6 70.8 25.4 M M
14500 -8.0 17.6 250 47 24 7.3 4.0 21.1 70.0 25.1 M M
14000 -7.1 19.2 250 46 24 4.6 2.5 20.5 69.0 24.7 M M
13500 -6.4 20.5 245 45 23 4.5 2.5 19.6 67.4 24.0 M M
13000 -5.7 21.7 240 44 23 4.5 2.5 18.8 65.8 23.3 M M
12500 -5.1 22.8 240 43 22 4.5 2.5 18.0 64.3 22.7 M M
12000 -4.4 24.1 235 42 21 3.8 2.1 17.1 62.9 22.0 M M
11500 -3.8 25.2 230 33 17 -6.0 -3.3 16.3 61.3 21.3 M M
11000 -7.8 18.0 225 25 13 -52.4 -28.8 10.3 50.6 16.0 M M
10500 -11.7 10.9 215 18 9 5.1 2.8 4.4 39.9 10.6 M M
10250 -11.9 10.6 205 14 7 -4.0 -2.2 3.5 38.2 9.8 M M
10000 -12.0 10.4 195 13 6 -1.7 -0.9 2.5 36.6 8.9 M M
9750 -12.2 10.0 205 11 6 -2.5 -1.4 1.6 34.8 8.0 M M
9500 -12.4 9.7 220 7 4 -2.4 -1.3 0.6 33.1 7.2 M M
9250 -12.6 9.3 255 4 2 -2.4 -1.3 -0.3 31.4 6.3 M M
9000 -12.7 9.1 310 5 3 -2.4 -1.3 -1.3 29.7 5.4 M M
8750 -12.9 8.8 325 5 3 -2.4 -1.3 -2.2 28.0 4.5 M M
8500 -13.1 8.4 335 6 3 -2.5 -1.3 -3.2 26.3 3.6 M M
8250 -13.3 8.1 345 6 3 -2.3 -1.3 -4.1 24.6 2.7 M M
8000 -13.4 7.9 350 7 4 -2.8 -1.5 -5.1 22.9 1.8 M M
7750 -13.6 7.5 360 8 4 -1.2 -0.7 -6.0 21.2 0.9 M M
7500 -13.5 7.7 005 9 5 4.1 2.2 -6.6 20.0 0.3 M M
7250 -13.1 8.4 010 11 5 6.4 3.5 -6.9 19.5 0.0 M M
7000 -12.6 9.3 015 12 6 5.6 3.1 -7.2 19.0 -0.3 214 1.1
6750 -12.2 10.0 015 12 6 6.5 3.6 -7.5 18.4 -0.6 194 1.0
6500 -11.8 10.8 015 12 6 3.9 2.1 -7.8 17.9 -0.9 173 0.9
6250 -11.5 11.3 020 11 6 6.6 3.6 -8.3 17.1 -1.3 158 0.8
6000 -10.7 12.7 020 11 6 11.2 6.1 -8.2 17.2 -1.3 128 0.6
5750 -10.0 14.0 020 10 5 9.7 5.3 -8.2 17.2 -1.3 98 0.5
5500 -9.2 15.4 015 8 4 11.2 6.2 -8.2 17.3 -1.3 68 0.3
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
10/25/2020 at 0900 MDT | 10/25/2020 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... +5.3 LI... +7.0 | CAPE... +11.3 LI... +12.9
CINH... -0.1 K Index... +5.0 | CINH... -0.0 K Index... -2.7
|
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 -61.7 -79.1 265 32 17 2.1 1.1 | -60.5 -76.9 260 31 16 2.1 1.1
45000 -58.4 -73.1 260 36 18 2.1 1.1 | -57.2 -71.0 255 37 19 2.0 1.1
40000 -55.3 -67.5 255 44 23 2.1 1.1 | -54.3 -65.7 250 47 24 2.0 1.1
38000 -53.7 -64.7 250 44 23 3.2 1.8 | -53.1 -63.6 250 48 25 2.1 1.2
36000 -51.8 -61.2 250 40 21 3.2 1.8 | -51.8 -61.2 245 46 24 2.1 1.2
34000 -49.6 -57.3 245 37 19 7.8 4.3 | -50.3 -58.5 240 45 23 6.8 3.7
32000 -44.6 -48.3 250 36 19 7.4 4.1 | -45.3 -49.5 245 42 22 7.3 4.0
30000 -40.2 -40.4 250 36 19 7.4 4.1 | -41.0 -41.8 245 40 21 6.7 3.7
29000 -38.0 -36.4 255 37 19 7.4 4.1 | -39.0 -38.2 245 40 21 6.7 3.7
28000 -35.8 -32.4 255 38 19 7.5 4.1 | -37.0 -34.6 250 40 20 6.7 3.7
27000 -33.5 -28.3 255 38 20 7.1 3.9 | -35.0 -31.0 250 39 20 6.7 3.7
26000 -31.8 -25.2 255 39 20 5.7 3.1 | -33.0 -27.4 255 38 20 6.6 3.6
25000 -30.1 -22.2 255 39 20 5.7 3.1 | -31.0 -23.8 255 36 19 6.6 3.6
24000 -28.4 -19.1 260 39 20 5.6 3.1 | -29.1 -20.4 255 35 18 6.5 3.6
23000 -26.5 -15.7 260 39 20 6.5 3.6 | -26.9 -16.4 255 34 18 7.8 4.3
22000 -24.6 -12.3 260 38 19 6.5 3.6 | -24.6 -12.3 255 34 17 7.8 4.3
21000 -22.7 -8.9 260 37 19 6.8 3.7 | -22.3 -8.1 255 33 17 7.8 4.3
20000 -20.4 -4.7 260 35 18 7.8 4.3 | -20.0 -4.0 250 32 17 7.8 4.3
19500 -19.2 -2.6 260 34 18 7.8 4.3 | -18.8 -1.8 250 32 16 7.8 4.3
19000 -18.1 -0.6 260 34 17 7.8 4.3 | -17.7 0.1 250 31 16 7.8 4.3
18500 -16.4 2.5 255 33 17 7.5 4.1 | -16.0 3.2 245 30 16 7.5 4.1
18000 -15.3 4.5 255 31 16 7.2 4.0 | -14.9 5.2 245 30 15 7.2 3.9
17500 -14.2 6.4 260 30 16 7.3 4.0 | -13.9 7.0 245 30 15 7.2 3.9
17000 -13.2 8.2 260 29 15 6.7 3.7 | -12.8 9.0 245 29 15 7.1 3.9
16500 -12.3 9.9 260 28 15 6.7 3.7 | -11.8 10.8 240 28 15 7.1 3.9
16000 -11.3 11.7 260 27 14 6.7 3.7 | -10.7 12.7 240 28 14 6.6 3.6
15500 -10.3 13.5 260 26 14 6.8 3.7 | -9.8 14.4 240 27 14 6.3 3.5
15000 -9.3 15.3 255 25 13 6.9 3.8 | -8.9 16.0 235 26 14 6.0 3.3
14500 -8.3 17.1 255 24 12 7.2 3.9 | -8.2 17.2 235 25 13 4.9 2.7
14000 -7.2 19.0 255 22 11 6.9 3.8 | -7.4 18.7 230 24 13 5.0 2.8
13500 -6.4 20.5 250 21 11 5.0 2.7 | -7.0 19.4 225 23 12 1.9 1.0
13000 -5.7 21.7 250 20 10 5.3 2.9 | -6.7 19.9 225 21 11 2.9 1.6
12500 -5.3 22.5 245 18 9 0.4 0.2 | -6.8 19.8 220 19 10 -5.0 -2.7
12000 -5.1 22.8 240 17 9 1.7 0.9 | -7.4 18.7 220 17 9 -3.6 -2.0
11500 -5.6 21.9 240 15 8 -7.3 -4.0 | -8.6 16.5 215 13 7 -13.8 -7.6
11000 -6.5 20.3 235 13 7 -5.8 -3.2 | -10.6 12.9 215 10 5 -13.5 -7.4
10500 -8.0 17.6 235 10 5 -14.5 -7.9 | -12.6 9.3 215 6 3 -13.7 -7.5
10250 -9.0 15.8 235 9 5 -14.3 -7.9 | -13.6 7.5 215 5 2 -14.1 -7.7
10000 -10.0 14.0 235 8 4 -10.7 -5.9 | -14.6 5.7 210 3 2 -12.2 -6.7
9750 -10.6 12.9 230 8 4 -9.4 -5.1 | -15.2 4.6 205 2 1 -5.7 -3.1
9500 -11.5 11.3 230 6 3 -14.2 -7.8 | -15.5 4.1 210 1 1 -4.7 -2.6
9250 -12.6 9.3 235 5 2 -16.0 -8.8 | -16.0 3.2 000 0 0 -7.7 -4.2
9000 -13.7 7.3 240 3 1 -12.0 -6.6 | -16.5 2.3 010 1 1 -4.9 -2.7
8750 -14.3 6.3 250 2 1 -5.7 -3.1 | -16.7 1.9 010 2 1 0.1 0.1
8500 -14.6 5.7 280 1 1 -4.6 -2.5 | -16.5 2.3 010 3 1 3.1 1.7
8250 -15.0 5.0 340 2 1 -4.2 -2.3 | -16.3 2.7 015 4 2 3.9 2.1
8000 -15.2 4.6 005 3 1 -1.4 -0.8 | -16.0 3.2 020 4 2 4.1 2.2
7750 -15.1 4.8 010 4 2 2.2 1.2 | -15.6 3.9 020 5 3 5.4 2.9
7500 -14.9 5.2 015 5 3 4.8 2.6 | -15.2 4.6 020 5 3 7.1 3.9
7250 -14.4 6.1 015 6 3 6.8 3.7 | -14.6 5.7 020 6 3 7.9 4.3
7000 -13.9 7.0 015 6 3 6.9 3.8 | -14.0 6.8 015 6 3 7.5 4.1
6750 -13.4 7.9 010 6 3 8.1 4.4 | -13.4 7.9 015 6 3 8.8 4.8
6500 -12.7 9.1 010 6 3 9.8 5.4 | -12.7 9.1 015 6 3 10.1 5.6
6250 -12.0 10.4 010 6 3 9.7 5.3 | -12.0 10.4 010 6 3 9.8 5.4
6000 -11.3 11.7 005 6 3 9.1 5.0 | -11.3 11.7 010 6 3 9.1 5.0
5750 -10.6 12.9 005 6 3 10.8 5.9 | -10.6 12.9 010 6 3 11.4 6.2
5500 -9.6 14.7 005 5 3 15.7 8.6 | -9.5 14.9 010 5 3 18.3 10.0
10/25/2020 at 1500 MDT | 10/25/2020 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +16.1 LI... +18.8 | CAPE... +6.9 LI... +21.3
CINH... -0.1 K Index... -9.7 | CINH... -0.3 K Index... -11.4
|
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 -59.7 -75.5 260 30 16 1.9 1.1 | -58.8 -73.8 255 30 15 2.1 1.2
45000 -56.6 -69.9 255 38 20 2.0 1.1 | -55.5 -67.9 250 38 19 2.2 1.2
40000 -53.5 -64.3 250 48 25 2.1 1.2 | -52.1 -61.8 245 47 24 2.3 1.2
38000 -52.3 -62.1 245 50 26 1.6 0.9 | -51.2 -60.2 245 50 26 0.3 0.2
36000 -51.3 -60.3 245 49 25 1.6 0.9 | -51.0 -59.8 240 50 26 0.3 0.2
34000 -50.3 -58.5 240 48 25 4.7 2.6 | -50.8 -59.4 240 50 26 2.5 1.4
32000 -46.0 -50.8 240 44 23 6.3 3.5 | -47.0 -52.6 235 47 24 5.7 3.1
30000 -42.1 -43.8 240 41 21 6.8 3.7 | -43.5 -46.3 230 43 22 7.6 4.2
29000 -40.1 -40.2 240 40 21 6.8 3.7 | -41.3 -42.3 235 42 22 7.4 4.1
28000 -38.1 -36.6 245 39 20 6.8 3.8 | -39.1 -38.4 235 41 21 7.4 4.1
27000 -36.0 -32.8 245 38 20 6.8 3.7 | -36.9 -34.4 235 40 21 7.4 4.0
26000 -33.9 -29.0 245 38 19 7.1 3.9 | -34.6 -30.3 235 39 20 7.6 4.2
25000 -31.8 -25.2 245 37 19 7.1 3.9 | -32.4 -26.3 240 38 20 7.7 4.2
24000 -29.7 -21.5 250 36 19 7.1 3.9 | -30.1 -22.2 240 38 19 7.7 4.2
23000 -27.4 -17.3 250 36 18 8.0 4.4 | -27.8 -18.0 245 37 19 7.7 4.2
22000 -25.0 -13.0 250 36 18 8.0 4.4 | -25.5 -13.9 245 36 18 7.7 4.2
21000 -22.6 -8.7 250 36 18 8.1 4.4 | -23.2 -9.8 245 35 18 7.7 4.3
20000 -20.3 -4.5 250 35 18 8.0 4.4 | -20.9 -5.6 245 34 18 7.8 4.3
19500 -19.1 -2.4 245 35 18 8.0 4.4 | -19.8 -3.6 245 34 17 7.8 4.3
19000 -17.9 -0.2 245 35 18 8.0 4.4 | -18.6 -1.5 245 34 17 7.8 4.3
18500 -16.7 1.9 245 35 18 8.1 4.4 | -17.5 0.5 245 34 17 7.8 4.3
18000 -15.0 5.0 245 34 18 7.4 4.1 | -15.8 3.6 245 33 17 7.2 4.0
17500 -14.0 6.8 245 34 17 7.5 4.1 | -14.8 5.4 245 33 17 7.3 4.0
17000 -12.9 8.8 245 33 17 7.2 3.9 | -13.7 7.3 240 32 17 6.7 3.7
16500 -11.8 10.8 240 33 17 7.1 3.9 | -12.8 9.0 240 31 16 6.5 3.6
16000 -10.8 12.6 240 32 17 6.7 3.7 | -11.8 10.8 240 30 16 5.8 3.2
15500 -9.9 14.2 235 31 16 6.0 3.3 | -11.2 11.8 235 29 15 4.1 2.3
15000 -9.1 15.6 235 29 15 5.8 3.2 | -10.6 12.9 230 27 14 4.3 2.3
14500 -8.5 16.7 230 28 14 2.7 1.5 | -10.4 13.3 225 24 13 -1.8 -1.0
14000 -8.1 17.4 230 26 14 3.7 2.0 | -10.6 12.9 220 22 11 -0.5 -0.3
13500 -8.1 17.4 225 24 12 -4.8 -2.6 | -11.3 11.7 215 19 10 -10.0 -5.5
13000 -8.8 16.2 220 21 11 -3.9 -2.1 | -12.8 9.0 210 16 8 -9.7 -5.3
12500 -9.8 14.4 215 18 9 -11.8 -6.5 | -14.4 6.1 200 13 7 -13.3 -7.3
12000 -11.6 11.1 215 14 7 -12.3 -6.7 | -16.3 2.7 195 10 5 -14.1 -7.7
11500 -13.4 7.9 210 10 5 -13.7 -7.5 | -18.0 -0.4 185 7 3 -7.6 -4.2
11000 -15.5 4.1 205 7 3 -14.5 -7.9 | -19.0 -2.2 165 5 2 -8.0 -4.4
10500 -17.0 1.4 195 4 2 -6.4 -3.5 | -19.5 -3.1 140 3 2 2.0 1.1
10250 -17.5 0.5 180 3 1 -6.3 -3.5 | -19.4 -2.9 125 2 1 1.2 0.7
10000 -18.0 -0.4 155 2 1 -6.9 -3.8 | -19.3 -2.7 085 2 1 1.1 0.6
9750 -18.4 -1.1 120 1 1 -1.0 -0.5 | -19.2 -2.6 055 2 1 2.8 1.6
9500 -18.1 -0.6 080 1 1 4.4 2.4 | -18.9 -2.0 045 2 1 5.3 2.9
9250 -17.9 -0.2 045 2 1 3.7 2.0 | -18.5 -1.3 040 3 1 5.9 3.2
9000 -17.6 0.3 030 3 1 3.3 1.8 | -18.0 -0.4 035 3 2 4.3 2.3
8750 -17.3 0.9 030 3 2 4.1 2.2 | -17.8 -0.0 035 4 2 3.7 2.0
8500 -16.9 1.6 030 4 2 6.8 3.7 | -17.4 0.7 035 5 2 6.3 3.5
8250 -16.4 2.5 030 5 3 7.4 4.0 | -16.9 1.6 035 5 3 7.1 3.9
8000 -15.9 3.4 030 6 3 5.5 3.0 | -16.4 2.5 035 6 3 6.9 3.8
7750 -15.5 4.1 025 6 3 5.4 3.0 | -15.9 3.4 035 6 3 7.5 4.1
7500 -15.0 5.0 025 7 3 7.6 4.1 | -15.3 4.5 035 7 3 8.8 4.9
7250 -14.5 5.9 020 7 3 8.3 4.6 | -14.6 5.7 030 7 3 8.3 4.6
7000 -13.8 7.2 020 7 3 8.3 4.5 | -14.1 6.6 025 7 3 6.8 3.7
6750 -13.2 8.2 015 7 4 9.2 5.0 | -13.5 7.7 025 7 3 9.0 5.0
6500 -12.5 9.5 015 7 3 10.1 5.5 | -12.8 9.0 020 6 3 9.9 5.4
6250 -11.8 10.8 015 7 3 9.7 5.3 | -12.1 10.2 015 6 3 8.5 4.7
6000 -11.1 12.0 010 6 3 9.1 5.0 | -11.5 11.3 015 6 3 8.3 4.6
5750 -10.3 13.5 010 6 3 11.0 6.0 | -10.8 12.6 010 6 3 9.6 5.3
5500 -9.3 15.3 010 6 3 16.9 9.3 | -10.0 14.0 005 5 2 13.3 7.3
________________________________________________________________________________
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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