Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
480
UXUS97 KGJT 111307
SRGGJT
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado
707 AM MDT Thursday, July 11, 2024
This forecast is for Thursday, July 11, 2024:
If the trigger temperature of 90.3 F/32.4 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1786 ft/min (9.1 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 23053 ft MSL (18214 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 102.0 F/39.3 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1130 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................. 20535 ft MSL (15696 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Friday 07/12....... Excellent
Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:58:19 / 20:41:15 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 42 min 55 sec (882 min 55 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:19:47 MDT... 72.33 degrees
Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 07/11/2024 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 16623 ft MSL (11784 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 17887 ft MSL (13048 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 19422 ft MSL (14583 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -4.5
K index......................... +17.9
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 -61.6 -78.9 350 16 8 3.6 2.0 90.8 195.4 30.2 M M
45000 -55.3 -67.5 360 25 13 4.2 2.3 75.8 168.4 23.0 M M
40000 -52.3 -62.1 350 43 22 -1.0 -0.5 57.9 136.2 12.7 M M
38000 -49.3 -56.7 010 33 17 7.2 4.0 53.6 128.6 10.1 M M
36000 -45.0 -49.0 015 38 19 7.7 4.2 51.5 124.6 8.8 M M
34000 -40.1 -40.2 020 37 19 7.7 4.3 50.0 122.0 8.0 M M
32000 -35.0 -31.0 010 29 15 9.2 5.1 49.0 120.2 7.5 M M
30000 -30.3 -22.5 010 27 14 7.9 4.4 46.6 115.9 5.8 M M
29000 -27.8 -18.0 005 29 15 8.1 4.4 46.0 114.7 5.4 M M
28000 -25.5 -13.9 010 26 13 6.2 3.4 45.2 113.4 4.9 M M
27000 -23.8 -10.8 005 22 11 5.7 3.1 43.7 110.6 3.7 M M
26000 -22.1 -7.8 340 16 8 5.8 3.2 42.2 107.9 2.5 M M
25000 -20.2 -4.4 005 18 9 7.0 3.8 41.0 105.7 1.6 M M
24000 -18.0 -0.4 345 18 9 7.3 4.0 40.0 104.0 0.9 M M
23000 -16.0 3.2 345 17 9 6.2 3.4 38.9 102.0 -0.0 1783 9.1
22000 -14.2 6.4 330 25 13 6.3 3.5 37.6 99.6 -1.2 1700 8.6
21000 -12.4 9.7 330 19 10 6.6 3.6 36.3 97.4 -2.4 1616 8.2
20000 -10.4 13.3 320 12 6 9.9 5.4 35.5 95.8 -3.3 1527 7.8
19500 -8.9 16.0 315 11 6 10.1 5.5 35.5 95.9 -3.3 1467 7.5
19000 -7.4 18.7 300 11 6 10.0 5.5 35.6 96.0 -3.3 1407 7.1
18500 -5.9 21.4 300 11 6 10.0 5.5 35.6 96.1 -3.3 1348 6.8
18000 -4.4 24.1 305 10 5 10.0 5.5 35.7 96.2 -3.3 1288 6.5
17500 -2.9 26.8 310 12 6 9.9 5.4 35.7 96.3 -3.3 1229 6.2
17000 -1.5 29.3 315 12 6 9.7 5.3 35.7 96.3 -3.2 1171 5.9
16500 0.7 33.3 320 10 5 9.7 5.3 35.8 96.4 -3.2 1083 5.5
16000 2.2 36.0 325 11 6 9.7 5.3 35.8 96.5 -3.2 1025 5.2
15500 3.6 38.5 310 11 6 9.7 5.3 35.8 96.5 -3.3 967 4.9
15000 5.0 41.0 320 8 4 9.7 5.3 35.8 96.5 -3.3 909 4.6
14500 6.5 43.7 325 8 4 9.7 5.3 35.8 96.5 -3.3 851 4.3
14000 7.9 46.2 340 8 4 9.7 5.3 35.8 96.5 -3.3 792 4.0
13500 9.4 48.9 350 7 4 9.7 5.3 35.8 96.5 -3.4 734 3.7
13000 10.8 51.4 350 8 4 9.7 5.3 35.8 96.4 -3.4 676 3.4
12500 12.3 54.1 335 7 4 9.7 5.3 35.8 96.4 -3.5 618 3.1
12000 13.7 56.7 340 9 5 9.2 5.1 35.7 96.3 -3.6 561 2.8
11500 15.1 59.2 350 7 3 9.2 5.1 35.6 96.1 -3.7 505 2.6
11000 16.4 61.5 345 5 3 9.0 4.9 35.5 96.0 -3.8 449 2.3
10500 17.9 64.2 310 4 2 7.9 4.3 35.5 95.9 -3.8 392 2.0
10250 18.2 64.8 300 2 1 4.9 2.7 35.2 95.3 -4.2 373 1.9
10000 18.6 65.5 285 1 1 5.7 3.1 34.9 94.8 -4.5 354 1.8
9750 19.0 66.2 170 3 2 5.5 3.0 34.5 94.1 -4.9 335 1.7
9500 19.4 66.9 165 7 4 5.6 3.1 34.2 93.5 -5.3 316 1.6
9250 19.8 67.6 160 11 6 5.4 3.0 33.9 93.0 -5.6 298 1.5
9000 20.2 68.4 160 15 8 6.1 3.3 33.5 92.4 -6.0 279 1.4
8750 20.5 68.9 160 16 8 3.9 2.1 33.2 91.8 -6.3 260 1.3
8500 20.6 69.1 155 17 9 1.1 0.6 32.6 90.7 -7.0 249 1.3
8250 20.7 69.3 145 13 7 1.3 0.7 31.9 89.5 -7.7 240 1.2
8000 20.8 69.4 125 10 5 1.0 0.5 31.3 88.3 -8.3 231 1.2
7750 20.7 69.3 125 12 6 -3.5 -1.9 30.5 86.9 -9.2 226 1.1
7500 20.4 68.7 130 14 7 -2.3 -1.2 29.4 84.9 -10.3 229 1.2
7250 20.5 68.9 135 16 8 5.8 3.2 28.8 83.9 -10.9 217 1.1
7000 21.0 69.8 140 18 9 7.9 4.3 28.7 83.6 -11.1 193 1.0
6750 21.6 70.9 140 18 9 7.3 4.0 28.5 83.3 -11.3 169 0.9
6500 22.1 71.8 140 19 10 7.5 4.1 28.3 83.0 -11.5 145 0.7
6250 22.7 72.9 135 18 9 7.5 4.1 28.1 82.6 -11.7 122 0.6
6000 23.2 73.8 125 18 9 7.3 4.0 28.0 82.3 -11.9 98 0.5
5750 23.8 74.8 120 18 9 8.2 4.5 27.8 82.0 -12.1 74 0.4
5500 24.3 75.7 105 18 9 5.1 2.8 27.6 81.7 -12.3 50 0.3
5250 24.4 75.9 110 18 9 -0.9 -0.5 27.0 80.6 -13.0 40 0.2
5000 24.1 75.4 115 18 9 -9.5 -5.2 26.0 78.7 -14.1 43 0.2
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
07/11/2024 at 0900 MDT | 07/11/2024 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... +19.1 LI... -0.2 | CAPE... +123.9 LI... -0.8
CINH... -106.4 K Index... +16.5 | CINH... -24.5 K Index... +15.9
|
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 -60.7 -77.3 010 15 8 2.4 1.3 | -60.7 -77.3 360 11 6 2.7 1.5
45000 -56.8 -70.2 005 24 12 2.9 1.6 | -56.8 -70.2 355 18 9 2.4 1.3
40000 -51.6 -60.9 360 34 18 5.6 3.1 | -52.1 -61.8 360 30 15 5.9 3.3
38000 -48.3 -54.9 360 33 17 5.6 3.1 | -48.6 -55.5 005 29 15 5.9 3.2
36000 -44.9 -48.8 005 32 17 6.6 3.6 | -45.0 -49.0 005 29 15 6.9 3.8
34000 -40.0 -40.0 010 30 15 8.2 4.5 | -40.1 -40.2 010 27 14 8.1 4.5
32000 -35.1 -31.2 015 28 15 8.3 4.6 | -35.2 -31.4 010 26 14 8.2 4.5
30000 -30.4 -22.7 020 27 14 7.8 4.3 | -30.7 -23.3 015 25 13 7.6 4.2
29000 -28.0 -18.4 025 26 13 7.8 4.3 | -28.4 -19.1 020 24 12 7.6 4.2
28000 -25.7 -14.3 025 25 13 7.3 4.0 | -26.1 -15.0 025 23 12 8.4 4.6
27000 -23.5 -10.3 025 23 12 7.2 4.0 | -23.5 -10.3 025 22 11 8.4 4.6
26000 -21.4 -6.5 020 21 11 7.2 4.0 | -20.4 -4.7 030 20 10 8.4 4.6
25000 -18.8 -1.8 020 19 10 5.2 2.9 | -18.0 -0.4 030 19 10 6.0 3.3
24000 -17.4 0.7 015 17 9 4.9 2.7 | -16.2 2.8 025 16 8 6.0 3.3
23000 -15.9 3.4 010 16 8 4.9 2.7 | -14.4 6.1 020 13 7 6.0 3.3
22000 -14.3 6.3 005 15 8 7.1 3.9 | -12.7 9.1 015 11 6 5.7 3.1
21000 -12.3 9.9 360 15 8 7.2 4.0 | -11.0 12.2 360 11 6 5.9 3.2
20000 -10.2 13.6 355 15 8 7.4 4.0 | -9.3 15.3 345 12 6 6.0 3.3
19500 -9.1 15.6 350 15 8 8.5 4.7 | -8.5 16.7 340 12 6 7.6 4.1
19000 -7.7 18.1 350 14 7 9.4 5.1 | -7.2 19.0 335 11 6 8.5 4.6
18500 -6.4 20.5 350 13 7 9.4 5.2 | -6.0 21.2 330 11 6 8.5 4.7
18000 -4.9 23.2 350 13 7 9.8 5.4 | -4.6 23.7 330 10 5 9.6 5.3
17500 -3.5 25.7 350 12 6 9.7 5.3 | -3.2 26.2 325 10 5 9.5 5.2
17000 -2.0 28.4 350 12 6 9.7 5.3 | -1.8 28.8 325 10 5 9.6 5.2
16500 -0.6 30.9 350 11 6 9.7 5.3 | -0.4 31.3 320 9 5 9.6 5.3
16000 0.8 33.4 350 11 6 9.7 5.3 | 1.0 33.8 320 9 4 9.6 5.3
15500 2.3 36.1 350 10 5 9.6 5.3 | 2.5 36.5 320 8 4 9.6 5.2
15000 3.7 38.7 350 10 5 9.6 5.3 | 3.9 39.0 320 8 4 9.6 5.2
14500 5.1 41.2 350 9 5 9.4 5.2 | 5.3 41.5 320 7 4 9.4 5.2
14000 6.5 43.7 345 9 4 9.4 5.2 | 6.7 44.1 320 7 3 9.4 5.2
13500 7.9 46.2 340 8 4 9.2 5.0 | 8.1 46.6 320 6 3 9.4 5.2
13000 9.3 48.7 335 7 4 9.0 5.0 | 9.5 49.1 315 6 3 9.4 5.2
12500 10.6 51.1 330 7 4 8.6 4.7 | 10.9 51.6 315 6 3 9.2 5.1
12000 11.8 53.2 320 6 3 8.3 4.5 | 12.3 54.1 310 5 3 9.1 5.0
11500 13.1 55.6 310 5 3 8.1 4.4 | 13.6 56.5 305 5 3 9.0 4.9
11000 14.2 57.6 290 4 2 7.7 4.2 | 14.9 58.8 300 5 2 8.8 4.8
10500 15.4 59.7 265 4 2 6.0 3.3 | 16.3 61.3 295 5 2 7.0 3.8
10250 15.8 60.4 250 4 2 6.1 3.4 | 16.7 62.1 290 4 2 7.1 3.9
10000 16.3 61.3 240 4 2 8.5 4.7 | 17.4 63.3 290 4 2 9.5 5.2
9750 16.9 62.4 230 4 2 7.8 4.3 | 18.0 64.4 285 4 2 8.9 4.9
9500 17.5 63.5 220 5 3 8.3 4.5 | 18.7 65.7 280 4 2 8.8 4.8
9250 18.1 64.6 220 6 3 8.1 4.5 | 19.3 66.7 280 4 2 8.3 4.5
9000 18.6 65.5 220 6 3 6.4 3.5 | 19.9 67.8 275 4 2 8.1 4.4
8750 19.5 67.1 210 7 4 5.7 3.1 | 21.1 70.0 275 3 2 7.5 4.1
8500 19.9 67.8 210 7 4 5.4 3.0 | 21.5 70.7 275 3 2 5.8 3.2
8250 20.2 68.4 205 7 4 5.4 2.9 | 22.0 71.6 280 3 2 8.6 4.7
8000 20.6 69.1 200 7 4 5.3 2.9 | 22.8 73.0 275 3 1 11.4 6.2
7750 21.0 69.8 190 7 4 4.4 2.4 | 23.5 74.3 275 3 1 8.9 4.9
7500 21.2 70.2 180 7 3 3.3 1.8 | 24.1 75.4 280 3 1 7.0 3.9
7250 21.5 70.7 170 7 4 4.7 2.6 | 24.7 76.5 285 3 1 9.3 5.1
7000 21.9 71.4 165 7 3 7.6 4.2 | 25.5 77.9 280 3 1 12.8 7.0
6750 22.5 72.5 155 6 3 7.1 3.9 | 26.4 79.5 280 2 1 11.3 6.2
6500 22.9 73.2 150 6 3 5.8 3.2 | 27.2 81.0 280 2 1 10.1 5.5
6250 23.4 74.1 140 7 3 5.6 3.1 | 27.9 82.2 285 2 1 8.8 4.8
6000 23.9 75.0 135 6 3 11.0 6.1 | 28.7 83.7 285 2 1 14.9 8.2
5750 25.1 77.2 135 6 3 21.8 12.0 | 30.4 86.7 285 2 1 31.5 17.3
5500 26.4 79.5 125 6 3 2.0 1.1 | 32.3 90.1 290 2 1 6.5 3.6
5250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
5000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
07/11/2024 at 1500 MDT | 07/11/2024 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +13.4 LI... +0.6 | CAPE... +1.2 LI... -0.4
CINH... -28.3 K Index... +14.3 | CINH... -10.3 K Index... +17.4
|
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 -60.9 -77.6 005 10 5 2.6 1.4 | -61.4 -78.5 360 8 4 2.5 1.4
45000 -57.1 -70.8 345 18 9 2.5 1.4 | -57.4 -71.3 345 17 9 3.0 1.6
40000 -52.3 -62.1 355 25 13 6.1 3.3 | -52.0 -61.6 355 23 12 5.8 3.2
38000 -48.6 -55.5 360 26 13 6.1 3.3 | -48.5 -55.3 355 23 12 5.8 3.2
36000 -45.0 -49.0 360 26 13 7.0 3.8 | -45.1 -49.2 355 23 12 6.8 3.7
34000 -40.2 -40.4 005 25 13 8.0 4.4 | -40.3 -40.5 360 22 11 8.0 4.4
32000 -35.3 -31.5 010 24 13 8.1 4.5 | -35.5 -31.9 005 21 11 8.1 4.4
30000 -30.8 -23.4 015 21 11 7.6 4.2 | -30.9 -23.6 010 18 9 7.7 4.2
29000 -28.5 -19.3 020 19 10 7.6 4.2 | -28.6 -19.5 010 16 8 7.7 4.2
28000 -26.2 -15.2 025 18 9 8.5 4.7 | -26.2 -15.2 010 15 7 8.6 4.7
27000 -23.6 -10.5 030 16 8 8.5 4.7 | -23.6 -10.5 005 14 7 8.6 4.7
26000 -20.4 -4.7 030 15 7 8.5 4.7 | -20.4 -4.7 360 13 6 8.6 4.7
25000 -18.0 -0.4 035 13 7 6.9 3.8 | -17.9 -0.2 360 12 6 7.2 4.0
24000 -15.9 3.4 030 12 6 7.0 3.8 | -15.7 3.7 355 13 7 7.3 4.0
23000 -13.8 7.2 020 10 5 7.0 3.8 | -13.6 7.5 355 13 7 7.4 4.1
22000 -11.8 10.8 015 10 5 6.7 3.7 | -11.4 11.5 350 14 7 7.0 3.8
21000 -9.8 14.4 005 11 6 6.8 3.7 | -9.4 15.1 355 14 7 7.1 3.9
20000 -7.8 18.0 360 12 6 6.9 3.8 | -7.3 18.9 355 14 7 7.2 4.0
19500 -6.8 19.8 360 13 7 7.5 4.1 | -6.3 20.7 355 14 7 8.3 4.6
19000 -5.6 21.9 355 13 7 7.8 4.3 | -5.0 23.0 355 14 7 8.9 4.9
18500 -4.5 23.9 355 13 7 7.8 4.3 | -3.7 25.3 355 14 7 9.0 4.9
18000 -3.3 26.1 350 12 6 8.9 4.9 | -2.3 27.9 355 14 7 9.4 5.2
17500 -2.0 28.4 350 12 6 8.8 4.8 | -0.9 30.4 355 14 7 9.4 5.2
17000 -0.7 30.7 345 12 6 9.1 5.0 | 0.5 32.9 355 13 7 9.5 5.2
16500 0.7 33.3 345 11 6 9.2 5.1 | 1.9 35.4 355 13 7 9.5 5.2
16000 2.0 35.6 345 11 5 9.2 5.1 | 3.3 37.9 355 12 6 9.5 5.2
15500 3.4 38.1 340 10 5 9.3 5.1 | 4.7 40.5 355 12 6 9.5 5.2
15000 4.8 40.6 340 10 5 9.3 5.1 | 6.2 43.2 355 11 6 9.5 5.2
14500 6.2 43.2 335 9 5 9.4 5.2 | 7.6 45.7 355 11 6 9.5 5.2
14000 7.6 45.7 335 9 5 9.4 5.2 | 9.0 48.2 355 11 5 9.5 5.2
13500 9.0 48.2 335 9 4 9.6 5.3 | 10.4 50.7 355 10 5 9.5 5.2
13000 10.5 50.9 330 8 4 9.6 5.3 | 11.9 53.4 355 9 5 9.5 5.2
12500 11.9 53.4 330 8 4 9.6 5.2 | 13.3 55.9 350 9 5 9.5 5.2
12000 13.3 55.9 325 7 4 9.5 5.2 | 14.7 58.5 350 8 4 9.4 5.2
11500 14.7 58.5 325 7 4 9.5 5.2 | 16.1 61.0 350 8 4 9.2 5.1
11000 16.2 61.2 325 7 3 9.4 5.2 | 17.4 63.3 350 7 3 8.7 4.8
10500 17.6 63.7 320 6 3 6.8 3.7 | 18.7 65.7 345 5 3 10.7 5.9
10250 18.0 64.4 315 6 3 7.5 4.1 | 19.6 67.3 350 6 3 11.2 6.1
10000 18.8 65.8 315 6 3 11.6 6.4 | 20.3 68.5 350 6 3 8.8 4.8
9750 19.6 67.3 315 6 3 10.8 5.9 | 21.0 69.8 350 5 3 9.4 5.2
9500 20.4 68.7 315 5 3 9.8 5.4 | 21.7 71.1 345 5 3 9.3 5.1
9250 21.1 70.0 310 5 3 8.9 4.9 | 22.4 72.3 335 4 2 9.4 5.1
9000 21.8 71.2 305 5 3 10.0 5.5 | 23.8 74.8 335 4 2 9.5 5.2
8750 23.3 73.9 305 5 3 9.5 5.2 | 24.5 76.1 335 4 2 9.0 4.9
8500 23.9 75.0 300 5 2 7.8 4.3 | 25.2 77.4 330 3 2 7.6 4.2
8250 24.5 76.1 300 5 2 9.7 5.3 | 25.8 78.4 305 2 1 9.2 5.0
8000 25.4 77.7 300 5 2 12.2 6.7 | 26.6 79.9 320 3 1 11.2 6.1
7750 26.2 79.2 300 4 2 9.9 5.4 | 27.4 81.3 325 3 2 9.7 5.3
7500 26.8 80.2 295 5 2 7.6 4.2 | 28.0 82.4 315 3 1 7.9 4.3
7250 27.5 81.5 290 5 2 9.4 5.1 | 28.6 83.5 290 2 1 8.8 4.8
7000 28.3 82.9 290 4 2 12.5 6.9 | 29.4 84.9 295 2 1 11.5 6.3
6750 29.2 84.6 290 4 2 11.6 6.3 | 30.3 86.5 320 3 1 11.1 6.1
6500 30.0 86.0 285 4 2 10.4 5.7 | 31.0 87.8 300 2 1 10.1 5.5
6250 30.8 87.4 285 4 2 9.4 5.1 | 31.8 89.2 275 2 1 9.9 5.4
6000 31.5 88.7 280 4 2 13.7 7.5 | 32.5 90.5 265 2 1 10.2 5.6
5750 33.1 91.6 285 4 2 28.9 15.9 | 33.4 92.1 295 2 1 16.4 9.0
5500 35.3 95.5 280 4 2 24.3 13.3 | 35.2 95.4 240 2 1 31.8 17.4
5250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
5000 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) 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 at Walker Field in Grand
Junction, Colorado at
North Latitude: 39 deg 07 min 00.001 sec
West Longitude: 108 deg 31 min 59.998 sec
Elevation: 4839 feet (1475 meters)
and may not be representative of other areas along the Western Slope of
Colorado. 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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