Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
509
UXUS97 KBOU 061219
SRGBOU
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, Colorado
0618 MDT Sunday, October 6, 2024
This forecast is for Sunday, October 6, 2024:
If the trigger temperature of 74.8 F/23.8 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Good
Maximum rate of lift........................ 721 ft/min (3.7 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 13845 ft MSL (8519 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 81.0 F/27.7 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1245 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................. 10048 ft MSL (4722 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Monday 10/07....... 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....................... 18107 ft MSL (12781 ft AGL)
Wave soaring outlook for Monday 10/07.......... Poor
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 07:01:29 / 18:33:15 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 11 hr 31 min 46 sec (691 min 46 sec)
Altitude of sun at 12:47:22 MDT... 44.61 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 10/06/2024 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 14562 ft MSL (9236 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 20470 ft MSL (15144 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 17558 ft MSL (12232 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +5.3
K index......................... +6.6
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 -65.8 -86.4 310 34 17 2.3 1.3 M M M M M
45000 -60.6 -77.1 310 34 17 5.7 3.1 M M M M M
40000 -52.0 -61.6 295 28 14 6.0 3.3 M M M M M
38000 -48.4 -55.1 295 27 14 6.0 3.3 M M M M M
36000 -44.9 -48.8 290 26 13 6.0 3.3 M M M M M
34000 -41.1 -42.0 295 25 13 6.3 3.5 M M M M M
32000 -37.3 -35.1 295 24 12 6.3 3.5 M M M M M
30000 -32.0 -25.6 300 23 12 8.3 4.6 43.8 110.9 12.6 M M
29000 -29.5 -21.1 300 22 11 8.3 4.6 43.3 110.0 12.4 M M
28000 -27.0 -16.6 305 22 11 8.2 4.5 42.9 109.2 12.2 M M
27000 -24.6 -12.3 305 21 11 8.1 4.5 42.2 107.9 11.7 M M
26000 -22.2 -8.0 305 21 11 8.1 4.5 41.6 106.8 11.4 M M
25000 -19.7 -3.5 305 20 11 7.9 4.4 41.1 105.9 11.1 M M
24000 -17.5 0.5 305 20 10 7.2 3.9 40.1 104.1 10.4 M M
23000 -15.4 4.3 310 19 10 7.2 3.9 39.1 102.4 9.8 M M
22000 -13.3 8.1 310 19 10 6.7 3.7 38.3 100.9 9.2 M M
21000 -11.6 11.1 305 18 9 5.6 3.1 36.8 98.2 8.0 M M
20000 -9.9 14.2 305 18 9 5.6 3.1 35.3 95.6 6.8 M M
19500 -9.1 15.6 300 18 9 5.6 3.1 34.6 94.3 6.2 M M
19000 -8.3 17.1 300 17 9 5.7 3.1 33.9 93.1 5.6 M M
18500 -7.5 18.5 295 16 8 5.7 3.1 33.2 91.8 5.0 M M
18000 -6.6 20.1 290 16 8 5.8 3.2 32.6 90.6 4.4 M M
17500 -5.8 21.6 280 15 8 5.9 3.2 31.9 89.4 3.8 M M
17000 -4.5 23.9 270 15 8 6.1 3.3 30.9 87.6 3.0 M M
16500 -3.6 25.5 270 15 8 6.2 3.4 30.3 86.5 2.4 M M
16000 -2.7 27.1 265 15 8 6.2 3.4 29.7 85.5 1.9 M M
15500 -1.7 28.9 260 15 8 6.8 3.7 29.2 84.5 1.4 M M
15000 -0.7 30.7 255 14 7 6.7 3.7 28.7 83.6 0.9 M M
14500 0.3 32.5 255 13 7 7.1 3.9 28.2 82.8 0.5 M M
14000 1.3 34.3 260 11 6 7.1 3.9 27.8 82.0 0.1 M M
13500 2.4 36.3 260 10 5 7.2 4.0 27.3 81.2 -0.3 683 3.5
13000 3.5 38.3 265 8 4 7.3 4.0 26.9 80.5 -0.7 636 3.2
12500 4.6 40.3 265 7 3 7.5 4.1 26.6 79.8 -1.1 589 3.0
12000 5.7 42.3 255 5 3 7.6 4.2 26.2 79.2 -1.4 540 2.7
11500 6.8 44.2 240 5 2 7.6 4.2 25.9 78.6 -1.8 492 2.5
11000 7.9 46.2 230 5 3 7.5 4.1 25.5 77.9 -2.1 443 2.2
10500 9.1 48.4 220 5 3 6.0 3.3 25.2 77.3 -2.4 394 2.0
10250 9.4 48.9 215 6 3 5.1 2.8 24.8 76.6 -2.8 376 1.9
10000 9.9 49.8 215 6 3 8.9 4.9 24.6 76.2 -3.0 353 1.8
9750 10.7 51.3 220 5 3 10.6 5.8 24.6 76.3 -3.0 323 1.6
9500 11.4 52.5 225 5 2 7.6 4.2 24.6 76.3 -3.1 295 1.5
9250 11.8 53.2 230 4 2 5.5 3.0 24.3 75.7 -3.4 274 1.4
9000 12.3 54.1 235 4 2 6.2 3.4 24.0 75.2 -3.7 253 1.3
8750 12.7 54.9 240 4 2 5.7 3.1 23.7 74.7 -4.0 233 1.2
8500 13.1 55.6 250 3 2 3.8 2.1 23.3 74.0 -4.3 215 1.1
8250 13.3 55.9 265 4 2 2.7 1.5 22.8 73.0 -4.9 201 1.0
8000 13.5 56.3 280 4 2 3.3 1.8 22.3 72.1 -5.4 188 1.0
7750 13.6 56.5 280 4 2 0.2 0.1 21.7 71.1 -6.0 176 0.9
7500 13.4 56.1 285 3 2 -3.8 -2.1 20.8 69.4 -6.9 174 0.9
7250 13.1 55.6 295 3 2 -3.8 -2.1 19.7 67.5 -8.0 176 0.9
7000 12.8 55.0 305 4 2 -4.7 -2.6 18.7 65.6 -9.1 179 0.9
6750 12.3 54.1 325 6 3 -7.3 -4.0 17.5 63.5 -10.3 185 0.9
6500 11.7 53.1 330 5 3 -8.3 -4.5 16.1 61.0 -11.7 197 1.0
6250 11.1 52.0 330 4 2 -7.8 -4.3 14.8 58.6 -13.1 208 1.1
6000 10.5 50.9 340 3 2 -8.6 -4.7 13.4 56.2 -14.4 219 1.1
5750 9.7 49.5 340 5 2 -10.0 -5.5 12.0 53.6 -15.9 234 1.2
5500 9.0 48.2 335 3 2 -10.1 -5.6 10.5 50.9 -17.5 249 1.3
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
10/06/2024 at 0900 MDT | 10/06/2024 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +5.9 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +5.6
CINH... -0.1 K Index... +5.9 | CINH... -1.8 K Index... +6.2
|
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 -65.7 -86.3 310 31 16 2.7 1.5 | -65.9 -86.6 305 28 14 3.2 1.7
45000 -59.8 -75.6 310 33 17 6.1 3.3 | -59.5 -75.1 295 29 15 5.9 3.2
40000 -50.8 -59.4 310 34 17 5.3 2.9 | -50.6 -59.1 300 32 17 6.1 3.4
38000 -47.6 -53.7 305 30 16 5.3 2.9 | -47.0 -52.6 300 30 15 6.1 3.4
36000 -44.4 -47.9 300 27 14 5.2 2.9 | -43.3 -45.9 300 27 14 6.2 3.4
34000 -41.0 -41.8 295 25 13 5.8 3.2 | -40.3 -40.5 290 26 13 4.8 2.6
32000 -37.1 -34.8 290 24 12 5.7 3.1 | -37.0 -34.6 275 25 13 4.3 2.4
30000 -32.3 -26.1 290 22 11 8.3 4.6 | -32.3 -26.1 275 22 12 8.2 4.5
29000 -29.8 -21.6 295 21 11 8.3 4.6 | -29.9 -21.8 275 21 11 8.2 4.5
28000 -27.3 -17.1 295 20 10 8.1 4.4 | -27.4 -17.3 275 20 10 7.8 4.3
27000 -24.9 -12.8 295 19 10 8.0 4.4 | -25.1 -13.2 275 18 9 7.7 4.2
26000 -22.5 -8.5 295 18 9 8.0 4.4 | -22.8 -9.0 270 17 9 7.7 4.2
25000 -20.1 -4.2 290 17 9 7.8 4.3 | -20.5 -4.9 265 16 8 7.6 4.2
24000 -18.0 -0.4 290 16 8 6.8 3.7 | -18.4 -1.1 265 16 8 7.0 3.8
23000 -16.0 3.2 290 15 8 6.8 3.7 | -16.3 2.7 265 16 8 7.0 3.8
22000 -14.0 6.8 290 14 7 6.6 3.6 | -14.2 6.4 265 15 8 6.8 3.7
21000 -12.1 10.2 290 15 7 6.2 3.4 | -12.3 9.9 265 15 8 6.5 3.6
20000 -10.3 13.5 290 15 8 6.2 3.4 | -10.3 13.5 270 14 7 6.6 3.6
19500 -9.4 15.1 290 15 8 6.2 3.4 | -9.4 15.1 275 14 7 6.6 3.6
19000 -8.4 16.9 290 15 8 6.4 3.5 | -8.4 16.9 275 14 7 6.6 3.6
18500 -7.5 18.5 285 15 8 6.4 3.5 | -7.4 18.7 275 14 7 6.6 3.6
18000 -6.5 20.3 285 15 8 6.4 3.5 | -6.5 20.3 275 14 7 6.5 3.6
17500 -5.1 22.8 275 15 8 6.3 3.4 | -5.5 22.1 270 15 8 6.4 3.5
17000 -4.2 24.4 270 15 8 6.0 3.3 | -4.6 23.7 270 15 8 6.4 3.5
16500 -3.4 25.9 265 16 8 5.8 3.2 | -3.3 26.1 260 16 8 5.9 3.2
16000 -2.6 27.3 260 16 8 5.8 3.2 | -2.4 27.7 260 17 9 6.0 3.3
15500 -1.7 28.9 260 16 8 6.5 3.6 | -1.5 29.3 255 18 9 6.6 3.6
15000 -0.7 30.7 255 15 8 6.4 3.5 | -0.5 31.1 250 18 9 6.6 3.6
14500 0.2 32.4 250 15 8 6.7 3.7 | 0.5 32.9 245 19 10 7.3 4.0
14000 1.2 34.2 245 15 7 6.7 3.7 | 1.5 34.7 240 20 10 7.2 4.0
13500 2.2 36.0 235 14 7 7.2 3.9 | 2.6 36.7 240 20 10 7.7 4.2
13000 3.3 37.9 235 13 7 7.2 4.0 | 3.8 38.8 235 20 10 7.8 4.3
12500 4.4 39.9 230 12 6 7.5 4.1 | 5.0 41.0 230 19 10 7.7 4.2
12000 5.5 41.9 225 11 5 7.6 4.2 | 6.1 43.0 230 19 10 7.6 4.2
11500 6.6 43.9 225 10 5 7.4 4.1 | 7.2 45.0 225 18 9 7.2 3.9
11000 7.7 45.9 220 9 5 7.3 4.0 | 8.2 46.8 220 16 8 6.8 3.8
10500 8.8 47.8 220 8 4 5.8 3.2 | 9.2 48.6 220 14 7 4.6 2.5
10250 9.2 48.6 220 8 4 4.9 2.7 | 9.5 49.1 215 14 7 3.6 2.0
10000 9.6 49.3 225 7 4 7.0 3.9 | 9.8 49.6 215 13 7 6.8 3.7
9750 10.2 50.4 225 6 3 7.9 4.3 | 10.4 50.7 210 12 6 7.6 4.2
9500 10.7 51.3 225 5 3 5.7 3.1 | 10.9 51.6 205 11 6 5.0 2.7
9250 11.0 51.8 230 4 2 4.5 2.5 | 11.1 52.0 205 10 5 3.1 1.7
9000 11.4 52.5 235 3 2 5.2 2.9 | 11.4 52.5 200 9 5 4.7 2.6
8750 11.8 53.2 230 3 1 4.4 2.4 | 11.8 53.2 195 8 4 5.1 2.8
8500 12.0 53.6 230 2 1 1.9 1.1 | 12.1 53.8 190 7 4 3.2 1.7
8250 12.1 53.8 240 2 1 1.0 0.5 | 12.3 54.1 185 7 4 2.4 1.3
8000 12.1 53.8 265 1 1 1.6 0.9 | 12.5 54.5 180 7 3 2.8 1.5
7750 12.2 54.0 240 1 1 -0.9 -0.5 | 12.6 54.7 170 6 3 2.4 1.3
7500 12.0 53.6 240 1 1 -3.3 -1.8 | 12.8 55.0 155 5 3 1.6 0.9
7250 11.7 53.1 255 1 1 -3.3 -1.8 | 12.9 55.2 140 4 2 2.3 1.3
7000 11.5 52.7 270 1 1 -2.1 -1.1 | 13.0 55.4 115 4 2 -0.3 -0.1
6750 11.3 52.3 315 2 1 -4.3 -2.3 | 13.0 55.4 100 3 2 5.1 2.8
6500 10.8 51.4 305 2 1 -7.1 -3.9 | 13.7 56.7 095 3 2 11.2 6.1
6250 10.3 50.5 295 2 1 -6.7 -3.7 | 14.5 58.1 085 3 2 10.9 6.0
6000 9.8 49.6 285 2 1 -5.4 -3.0 | 15.2 59.4 080 4 2 6.1 3.4
5750 9.6 49.3 295 3 1 3.9 2.1 | 15.6 60.1 070 4 2 10.6 5.8
5500 10.4 50.7 300 2 1 14.4 7.9 | 17.3 63.1 065 4 2 33.6 18.4
10/06/2024 at 1500 MDT | 10/06/2024 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +4.4 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +3.6
CINH... -1.4 K Index... +9.4 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... +13.5
|
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 -66.0 -86.8 295 27 14 2.9 1.6 | -65.4 -85.7 290 26 13 2.9 1.6
45000 -59.9 -75.8 285 30 16 6.2 3.4 | -59.5 -75.1 280 31 16 5.8 3.2
40000 -50.6 -59.1 285 33 17 6.1 3.3 | -50.7 -59.3 280 36 19 5.6 3.1
38000 -47.0 -52.6 285 31 16 6.1 3.3 | -47.4 -53.3 280 34 18 5.6 3.1
36000 -43.3 -45.9 285 30 15 6.1 3.4 | -44.0 -47.2 280 33 17 5.6 3.1
34000 -40.2 -40.4 280 28 14 5.1 2.8 | -40.4 -40.7 275 29 15 6.0 3.3
32000 -36.7 -34.1 270 26 14 4.8 2.6 | -36.3 -33.3 265 25 13 5.9 3.3
30000 -32.3 -26.1 265 25 13 7.6 4.2 | -32.2 -26.0 260 26 13 7.0 3.9
29000 -30.0 -22.0 265 25 13 7.6 4.2 | -30.1 -22.2 255 27 14 7.0 3.9
28000 -27.7 -17.9 265 24 12 7.7 4.2 | -28.0 -18.4 255 27 14 7.6 4.2
27000 -25.4 -13.7 265 23 12 7.7 4.2 | -25.6 -14.1 255 25 13 7.8 4.3
26000 -23.1 -9.6 265 22 11 7.7 4.2 | -23.3 -9.9 260 22 12 7.8 4.3
25000 -20.8 -5.4 265 21 11 7.6 4.2 | -21.0 -5.8 265 20 10 7.8 4.3
24000 -18.6 -1.5 265 20 10 7.1 3.9 | -18.8 -1.8 265 20 10 7.0 3.9
23000 -16.5 2.3 265 20 10 7.1 3.9 | -16.7 1.9 270 20 10 7.0 3.9
22000 -14.4 6.1 265 19 10 7.0 3.9 | -14.6 5.7 275 20 10 6.8 3.7
21000 -12.3 9.9 265 18 9 6.9 3.8 | -12.8 9.0 270 20 10 6.2 3.4
20000 -10.3 13.5 270 17 9 6.9 3.8 | -11.0 12.2 270 20 10 6.2 3.4
19500 -9.3 15.3 270 16 8 6.9 3.8 | -10.1 13.8 270 20 10 6.2 3.4
19000 -8.3 17.1 270 16 8 6.5 3.5 | -9.1 15.6 265 20 10 6.6 3.6
18500 -7.3 18.9 265 16 8 6.5 3.6 | -8.2 17.2 265 21 11 6.7 3.7
18000 -6.4 20.5 265 16 8 6.5 3.6 | -6.7 19.9 265 21 11 7.9 4.3
17500 -5.0 23.0 265 16 8 6.5 3.5 | -5.6 21.9 265 21 11 7.9 4.4
17000 -4.0 24.8 265 17 9 6.8 3.7 | -4.5 23.9 265 20 10 8.0 4.4
16500 -3.0 26.6 265 17 9 7.1 3.9 | -3.3 26.1 265 18 10 8.0 4.4
16000 -2.0 28.4 265 18 9 7.1 3.9 | -2.1 28.2 265 17 9 8.0 4.4
15500 -0.9 30.4 265 18 9 7.6 4.2 | -0.9 30.4 270 16 8 7.9 4.4
15000 0.2 32.4 260 19 10 7.6 4.2 | 0.3 32.5 270 14 7 7.9 4.4
14500 1.3 34.3 260 19 10 8.1 4.4 | 1.5 34.7 270 13 7 8.1 4.5
14000 2.5 36.5 260 18 9 8.1 4.5 | 2.7 36.9 270 12 6 8.1 4.5
13500 3.7 38.7 255 17 9 8.1 4.4 | 3.9 39.0 270 11 6 7.7 4.2
13000 4.9 40.8 250 17 9 8.1 4.4 | 5.0 41.0 265 10 5 7.5 4.1
12500 6.1 43.0 245 16 8 7.8 4.3 | 6.2 43.2 255 9 4 6.4 3.5
12000 7.2 45.0 240 15 8 7.6 4.2 | 6.9 44.4 240 7 4 5.4 3.0
11500 8.3 46.9 230 14 7 6.7 3.7 | 7.7 45.9 215 6 3 5.4 3.0
11000 9.2 48.6 215 13 7 5.7 3.1 | 8.6 47.5 190 6 3 5.3 2.9
10500 10.0 50.0 200 12 6 3.6 2.0 | 9.4 48.9 170 6 3 1.5 0.8
10250 10.2 50.4 195 13 7 2.7 1.5 | 9.4 48.9 155 7 4 3.3 1.8
10000 10.5 50.9 185 11 6 5.7 3.1 | 10.0 50.0 155 7 4 11.8 6.5
9750 10.9 51.6 170 10 5 5.9 3.2 | 10.9 51.6 155 7 4 12.8 7.0
9500 11.4 52.5 155 9 5 5.3 2.9 | 11.8 53.2 155 7 4 9.0 4.9
9250 11.7 53.1 145 10 5 4.2 2.3 | 12.3 54.1 150 7 4 4.9 2.7
9000 12.1 53.8 140 10 5 7.3 4.0 | 12.8 55.0 145 7 4 8.7 4.8
8750 12.7 54.9 140 9 4 9.5 5.2 | 13.5 56.3 145 7 4 10.7 5.9
8500 13.4 56.1 135 7 4 7.3 4.0 | 14.3 57.7 145 7 4 8.7 4.8
8250 13.8 56.8 125 7 4 5.9 3.2 | 14.8 58.6 140 7 3 7.7 4.2
8000 14.3 57.7 115 6 3 8.4 4.6 | 15.4 59.7 130 6 3 8.4 4.6
7750 15.1 59.2 115 6 3 10.2 5.6 | 16.1 61.0 135 6 3 8.6 4.7
7500 15.8 60.4 110 6 3 8.4 4.6 | 16.7 62.1 135 6 3 8.0 4.4
7250 16.3 61.3 100 5 3 6.3 3.5 | 17.3 63.1 125 5 2 7.3 4.0
7000 16.9 62.4 090 5 3 11.3 6.2 | 17.8 64.0 110 4 2 8.9 4.9
6750 17.9 64.2 100 5 3 12.8 7.0 | 18.6 65.5 120 4 2 10.3 5.6
6500 18.7 65.7 100 5 2 9.1 5.0 | 19.3 66.7 125 4 2 9.3 5.1
6250 19.4 66.9 095 5 2 10.5 5.7 | 20.0 68.0 115 3 2 8.9 4.9
6000 20.1 68.2 090 4 2 8.8 4.8 | 20.7 69.3 110 3 2 9.8 5.4
5750 20.9 69.6 060 5 2 13.7 7.5 | 21.4 70.5 045 3 2 8.7 4.8
5500 22.4 72.3 060 4 2 25.7 14.1 | 21.9 71.4 035 3 1 4.3 2.3
________________________________________________________________________________
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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