Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
916
UXUS97 KBOU 060120
SRGBOU
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, Colorado
1917 MDT Tuesday, August 5, 2025
This forecast is for Wednesday, August 6, 2025:
If the trigger temperature of 89.8 F/32.1 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1614 ft/min (8.2 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 21541 ft MSL (16253 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 98.0 F/37.1 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1045 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ 1600 MDT
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 14369 ft MSL (9081 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Thursday 08/07..... 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....................... 14376 ft MSL (9088 ft AGL)
Wave soaring outlook for Thursday 08/07........ Poor
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:03:43 / 20:06:57 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 3 min 15 sec (843 min 15 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:05:20 MDT... 66.67 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 08/06/2025 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 16621 ft MSL (11333 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 24100 ft MSL (18812 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 23460 ft MSL (18172 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +1.4
K index......................... +2.6
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 -63.7 -82.7 265 36 19 -0.5 -0.3 M M M M M
45000 -62.1 -79.8 265 58 30 4.9 2.7 M M M M M
40000 -53.9 -65.0 270 59 30 6.9 3.8 M M M M M
38000 -49.8 -57.6 270 53 27 6.9 3.8 M M M M M
36000 -45.7 -50.3 265 48 25 7.3 4.0 M M M M M
34000 -40.9 -41.6 270 45 23 8.0 4.4 M M M M M
32000 -36.1 -33.0 270 42 22 8.5 4.7 M M M M M
30000 -31.5 -24.7 275 38 19 7.7 4.2 44.1 111.5 5.6 M M
29000 -29.2 -20.6 275 35 18 7.7 4.2 43.4 110.2 5.1 M M
28000 -26.3 -15.3 275 33 17 7.6 4.2 42.5 108.5 4.5 M M
27000 -24.0 -11.2 275 31 16 7.6 4.2 41.6 106.9 3.8 M M
26000 -21.8 -7.2 275 29 15 7.6 4.2 40.8 105.5 3.2 M M
25000 -19.5 -3.1 280 28 14 7.3 4.0 40.1 104.1 2.7 M M
24000 -17.4 0.7 280 27 14 7.2 4.0 39.1 102.3 1.8 M M
23000 -15.3 4.5 280 27 14 7.3 4.0 38.2 100.7 1.1 M M
22000 -13.1 8.4 275 26 13 7.3 4.0 37.3 99.2 0.4 M M
21000 -10.9 12.4 275 25 13 7.3 4.0 36.4 97.5 -0.4 1563 7.9
20000 -8.8 16.2 275 23 12 7.4 4.0 35.6 96.0 -1.2 1468 7.5
19500 -7.7 18.1 275 23 12 7.7 4.2 35.2 95.4 -1.5 1421 7.2
19000 -6.5 20.3 275 22 11 8.0 4.4 34.9 94.8 -1.8 1370 7.0
18500 -5.3 22.5 275 21 11 7.9 4.4 34.6 94.3 -2.0 1319 6.7
18000 -4.0 24.8 275 20 10 9.2 5.0 34.4 93.9 -2.2 1266 6.4
17500 -2.6 27.3 275 19 10 9.1 5.0 34.3 93.7 -2.3 1210 6.1
17000 -1.3 29.7 275 17 9 9.1 5.0 34.2 93.6 -2.4 1154 5.9
16500 0.1 32.2 275 17 9 9.1 5.0 34.1 93.3 -2.5 1099 5.6
16000 1.4 34.5 275 16 8 9.1 5.0 34.0 93.2 -2.7 1044 5.3
15500 2.8 37.0 275 16 8 9.3 5.1 33.9 93.0 -2.8 988 5.0
15000 4.2 39.6 280 17 9 9.3 5.1 33.8 92.9 -2.9 932 4.7
14500 5.6 42.1 280 17 9 9.4 5.1 33.7 92.7 -3.0 876 4.4
14000 7.7 45.9 285 18 9 9.4 5.1 33.7 92.6 -3.1 791 4.0
13500 9.1 48.4 285 19 10 9.4 5.2 33.6 92.5 -3.2 734 3.7
13000 10.4 50.7 285 20 10 9.4 5.2 33.5 92.4 -3.2 678 3.4
12500 11.8 53.2 290 21 11 9.4 5.1 33.5 92.3 -3.3 621 3.2
12000 13.2 55.8 290 22 11 9.4 5.1 33.4 92.2 -3.4 565 2.9
11500 14.6 58.3 290 22 12 9.3 5.1 33.4 92.0 -3.5 509 2.6
11000 16.0 60.8 290 22 11 9.5 5.2 33.3 91.9 -3.6 453 2.3
10500 17.1 62.8 290 22 11 3.7 2.0 32.9 91.3 -4.0 405 2.1
10250 17.4 63.3 290 22 11 7.7 4.2 32.5 90.5 -4.4 388 2.0
10000 18.3 64.9 290 20 10 12.8 7.0 32.6 90.8 -4.3 355 1.8
9750 19.1 66.4 290 19 10 10.7 5.9 32.8 91.0 -4.1 321 1.6
9500 19.8 67.6 290 18 9 7.0 3.9 32.8 91.0 -4.2 293 1.5
9250 20.3 68.5 290 17 9 6.3 3.5 32.4 90.4 -4.5 273 1.4
9000 20.9 69.6 290 16 8 10.6 5.8 32.4 90.2 -4.6 246 1.3
8750 21.8 71.2 290 14 7 10.7 5.9 32.5 90.5 -4.5 213 1.1
8500 22.4 72.3 290 13 7 7.8 4.3 32.4 90.4 -4.5 186 0.9
8250 22.9 73.2 295 13 7 6.0 3.3 32.2 90.0 -4.8 163 0.8
8000 23.4 74.1 295 13 6 9.2 5.1 32.0 89.6 -5.0 141 0.7
7750 24.2 75.6 290 11 6 9.6 5.3 32.0 89.7 -4.9 109 0.6
7500 24.8 76.6 290 11 5 5.8 3.2 31.8 89.3 -5.1 86 0.4
7250 25.2 77.4 290 10 5 4.9 2.7 31.5 88.7 -5.5 66 0.3
7000 25.6 78.1 290 10 5 6.8 3.7 31.2 88.1 -5.8 46 0.2
6750 26.1 79.0 285 9 4 2.5 1.3 30.9 87.6 -6.1 25 0.1
6500 25.9 78.6 280 8 4 -3.1 -1.7 30.0 86.1 -7.0 21 0.1
6250 25.8 78.4 270 8 4 -0.5 -0.3 29.2 84.5 -7.8 18 0.1
6000 25.7 78.3 260 7 4 -5.9 -3.2 28.3 82.9 -8.7 15 0.1
5750 24.6 76.3 245 7 4 -24.3 -13.3 26.5 79.7 -10.6 40 0.2
5500 22.0 71.6 225 6 3 -39.3 -21.6 23.3 73.9 -13.9 109 0.6
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
08/06/2025 at 0900 MDT | 08/06/2025 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +1.4 | CAPE... +2.6 LI... +1.5
CINH... 0.0 K Index... +12.6 | CINH... -10.3 K Index... +14.3
|
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 -63.7 -82.7 270 30 15 0.4 0.2 | -64.0 -83.2 270 33 17 0.6 0.3
45000 -61.5 -78.7 270 58 30 4.0 2.2 | -61.4 -78.5 275 59 30 4.0 2.2
40000 -54.5 -66.1 270 60 31 7.1 3.9 | -54.7 -66.5 270 59 31 7.3 4.0
38000 -50.3 -58.5 270 56 29 7.0 3.9 | -50.3 -58.5 270 56 29 7.3 4.0
36000 -46.1 -51.0 265 51 26 7.2 4.0 | -45.9 -50.6 270 52 27 7.5 4.1
34000 -41.5 -42.7 270 46 24 7.8 4.3 | -41.2 -42.2 270 47 24 7.9 4.4
32000 -36.8 -34.2 270 42 21 8.1 4.5 | -36.4 -33.5 270 42 22 8.2 4.5
30000 -31.8 -25.2 270 34 18 7.5 4.1 | -31.6 -24.9 265 35 18 7.1 3.9
29000 -29.5 -21.1 270 31 16 7.5 4.1 | -29.5 -21.1 265 32 17 7.2 3.9
28000 -27.3 -17.1 270 29 15 7.5 4.1 | -27.3 -17.1 260 30 15 7.4 4.1
27000 -25.1 -13.2 270 27 14 7.5 4.1 | -25.1 -13.2 260 27 14 7.4 4.1
26000 -22.9 -9.2 270 26 13 7.5 4.1 | -22.9 -9.2 260 25 13 7.5 4.1
25000 -20.6 -5.1 270 25 13 7.6 4.2 | -20.6 -5.1 265 23 12 7.9 4.3
24000 -18.4 -1.1 270 24 13 7.6 4.2 | -18.3 -0.9 265 22 11 7.9 4.4
23000 -16.1 3.0 270 24 12 7.7 4.2 | -15.9 3.4 270 21 11 8.0 4.4
22000 -13.9 7.0 270 24 12 8.1 4.4 | -13.6 7.5 275 21 11 8.0 4.4
21000 -11.5 11.3 270 22 12 8.1 4.4 | -11.2 11.8 275 22 11 8.0 4.4
20000 -9.1 15.6 270 21 11 8.1 4.5 | -8.8 16.2 275 23 12 8.0 4.4
19500 -7.9 17.8 270 21 11 8.3 4.6 | -7.6 18.3 275 24 12 8.1 4.4
19000 -6.7 19.9 275 21 11 8.5 4.7 | -6.4 20.5 275 24 12 8.2 4.5
18500 -5.4 22.3 275 21 11 8.6 4.7 | -5.2 22.6 275 24 13 8.2 4.5
18000 -4.1 24.6 275 21 11 8.7 4.7 | -4.0 24.8 275 24 13 8.6 4.7
17500 -2.8 27.0 275 20 10 8.7 4.8 | -2.8 27.0 275 24 12 8.6 4.7
17000 -1.5 29.3 275 20 10 8.8 4.8 | -1.5 29.3 275 24 12 8.9 4.9
16500 -0.2 31.6 275 20 10 8.9 4.9 | -0.1 31.8 275 23 12 9.2 5.1
16000 1.8 35.2 280 19 10 8.9 4.9 | 1.9 35.4 275 22 12 9.2 5.0
15500 3.1 37.6 280 19 10 8.9 4.9 | 3.3 37.9 275 22 11 9.1 5.0
15000 4.4 39.9 280 19 10 8.9 4.9 | 4.6 40.3 275 21 11 9.1 5.0
14500 5.8 42.4 280 18 9 9.2 5.0 | 6.0 42.8 275 20 10 9.2 5.1
14000 7.1 44.8 285 18 9 9.1 5.0 | 7.3 45.1 275 19 10 9.2 5.1
13500 8.5 47.3 285 18 9 9.3 5.1 | 8.7 47.7 275 18 9 9.4 5.2
13000 9.9 49.8 285 19 10 9.3 5.1 | 10.1 50.2 275 17 9 9.4 5.2
12500 11.3 52.3 285 19 10 9.1 5.0 | 11.5 52.7 275 16 8 9.4 5.2
12000 12.6 54.7 290 18 10 9.1 5.0 | 12.9 55.2 280 16 8 9.4 5.2
11500 14.0 57.2 290 18 9 8.9 4.9 | 14.4 57.9 280 15 8 9.4 5.1
11000 15.3 59.5 290 18 9 9.3 5.1 | 15.8 60.4 280 14 7 9.9 5.4
10500 16.4 61.5 290 17 9 3.7 2.0 | 16.8 62.2 285 13 7 3.9 2.1
10250 16.8 62.2 290 17 9 8.2 4.5 | 17.3 63.1 285 12 6 9.6 5.3
10000 17.7 63.9 290 16 8 13.2 7.3 | 18.3 64.9 280 12 6 14.1 7.7
9750 18.6 65.5 295 16 8 10.6 5.8 | 19.2 66.6 280 11 6 11.2 6.1
9500 19.3 66.7 295 16 8 6.9 3.8 | 19.9 67.8 280 10 5 7.1 3.9
9250 19.7 67.5 295 16 8 6.6 3.6 | 20.4 68.7 280 10 5 7.8 4.3
9000 20.4 68.7 295 16 8 10.7 5.9 | 21.2 70.2 280 10 5 12.4 6.8
8750 21.2 70.2 295 16 8 10.3 5.6 | 22.1 71.8 280 9 5 11.3 6.2
8500 21.9 71.4 290 16 8 7.4 4.0 | 22.8 73.0 280 9 5 8.5 4.7
8250 22.4 72.3 290 16 8 6.0 3.3 | 23.4 74.1 280 9 4 6.9 3.8
8000 22.9 73.2 290 16 8 9.5 5.2 | 24.0 75.2 280 8 4 11.8 6.5
7750 23.7 74.7 290 15 8 9.3 5.1 | 25.0 77.0 280 8 4 12.4 6.8
7500 24.2 75.6 290 15 8 5.3 2.9 | 25.7 78.3 280 8 4 8.1 4.4
7250 24.6 76.3 290 14 7 4.8 2.6 | 26.3 79.3 280 7 4 7.6 4.2
7000 25.0 77.0 290 13 7 8.0 4.4 | 27.0 80.6 280 7 4 11.9 6.6
6750 25.7 78.3 285 11 6 6.5 3.6 | 28.0 82.4 275 7 3 13.2 7.3
6500 25.9 78.6 280 10 5 1.8 1.0 | 28.8 83.8 275 6 3 9.4 5.2
6250 26.1 79.0 275 8 4 3.8 2.1 | 29.6 85.3 275 6 3 10.8 5.9
6000 26.3 79.3 265 7 4 0.6 0.3 | 30.4 86.7 275 6 3 9.0 5.0
5750 26.3 79.3 245 5 3 2.6 1.5 | 31.1 88.0 280 6 3 15.0 8.2
5500 26.9 80.4 230 4 2 14.2 7.8 | 32.8 91.0 280 5 3 28.8 15.8
08/06/2025 at 1500 MDT | 08/06/2025 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +35.4 LI... +0.3 | CAPE... +109.1 LI... +0.2
CINH... -38.3 K Index... +18.9 | CINH... -49.4 K Index... +21.6
|
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 -65.1 -85.2 275 36 18 0.7 0.4 | -64.7 -84.5 275 33 17 0.6 0.3
45000 -62.1 -79.8 275 59 31 4.4 2.4 | -61.9 -79.4 275 53 27 4.3 2.3
40000 -54.8 -66.6 275 60 31 7.5 4.1 | -54.6 -66.3 275 58 30 7.8 4.3
38000 -50.3 -58.5 275 55 28 7.5 4.1 | -49.9 -57.8 275 52 27 7.8 4.3
36000 -45.8 -50.4 270 49 25 7.9 4.3 | -45.3 -49.5 270 47 24 8.0 4.4
34000 -40.8 -41.4 270 45 23 8.4 4.6 | -40.3 -40.5 265 43 22 8.3 4.5
32000 -35.7 -32.3 270 41 21 8.9 4.9 | -35.4 -31.7 265 39 20 8.9 4.9
30000 -30.5 -22.9 265 35 18 7.8 4.3 | -30.0 -22.0 265 33 17 8.0 4.4
29000 -28.2 -18.8 265 33 17 7.8 4.3 | -27.6 -17.7 265 30 16 7.9 4.4
28000 -26.0 -14.8 260 31 16 7.1 3.9 | -25.3 -13.5 265 28 15 7.2 3.9
27000 -23.9 -11.0 265 29 15 7.1 3.9 | -23.2 -9.8 270 27 14 7.2 3.9
26000 -21.7 -7.1 265 27 14 7.1 3.9 | -21.1 -6.0 270 26 14 7.2 3.9
25000 -19.6 -3.3 265 25 13 7.5 4.1 | -19.0 -2.2 275 26 13 7.3 4.0
24000 -17.4 0.7 265 24 12 7.5 4.1 | -16.8 1.8 275 26 13 7.3 4.0
23000 -15.2 4.6 265 23 12 7.5 4.1 | -14.7 5.5 280 26 13 7.3 4.0
22000 -13.0 8.6 265 22 11 8.2 4.5 | -12.5 9.5 280 25 13 8.3 4.5
21000 -10.6 12.9 265 22 11 8.2 4.5 | -10.1 13.8 280 24 12 8.2 4.5
20000 -8.2 17.2 265 21 11 8.3 4.5 | -7.7 18.1 280 22 12 8.2 4.5
19500 -7.0 19.4 270 21 11 8.4 4.6 | -6.5 20.3 280 22 11 8.6 4.7
19000 -5.7 21.7 270 21 11 8.5 4.6 | -5.2 22.6 280 20 10 8.9 4.9
18500 -4.5 23.9 270 20 10 8.4 4.6 | -3.9 25.0 285 19 10 9.0 4.9
18000 -3.2 26.2 270 20 10 9.2 5.0 | -2.6 27.3 285 18 9 8.7 4.8
17500 -1.8 28.8 270 19 10 9.1 5.0 | -1.3 29.7 285 17 9 8.8 4.8
17000 -0.4 31.3 270 18 10 9.5 5.2 | 0.0 32.0 285 16 8 9.2 5.0
16500 1.0 33.8 270 18 9 9.7 5.3 | 1.5 34.7 285 15 8 9.5 5.2
16000 2.5 36.5 270 17 9 9.7 5.3 | 2.9 37.2 285 14 7 9.5 5.2
15500 3.9 39.0 270 17 9 9.5 5.2 | 4.3 39.7 285 12 6 9.5 5.2
15000 5.3 41.5 265 16 8 9.5 5.2 | 5.7 42.3 285 11 6 9.5 5.2
14500 6.7 44.1 265 15 8 9.4 5.2 | 7.8 46.0 280 10 5 9.2 5.0
14000 8.2 46.8 265 14 7 9.4 5.2 | 9.2 48.6 275 9 5 9.2 5.0
13500 10.3 50.5 265 12 6 9.3 5.1 | 10.6 51.1 270 8 4 9.4 5.2
13000 11.6 52.9 265 11 6 9.3 5.1 | 12.0 53.6 260 8 4 9.4 5.2
12500 13.0 55.4 260 10 5 9.3 5.1 | 13.3 55.9 250 7 4 9.1 5.0
12000 14.4 57.9 260 10 5 9.3 5.1 | 14.7 58.5 240 7 4 9.1 5.0
11500 15.8 60.4 255 9 5 9.3 5.1 | 16.0 60.8 230 8 4 9.0 4.9
11000 17.2 63.0 255 8 4 10.0 5.5 | 17.4 63.3 225 8 4 9.4 5.2
10500 18.3 64.9 255 8 4 3.9 2.1 | 18.4 65.1 220 8 4 4.2 2.3
10250 18.7 65.7 250 8 4 10.0 5.5 | 18.8 65.8 215 9 4 9.0 4.9
10000 19.7 67.5 250 7 4 13.9 7.6 | 19.7 67.5 215 9 5 12.8 7.0
9750 20.7 69.3 250 7 4 11.0 6.0 | 20.6 69.1 210 9 5 10.7 5.8
9500 21.3 70.3 250 7 3 6.3 3.4 | 21.2 70.2 210 10 5 6.0 3.3
9250 21.8 71.2 250 7 3 8.1 4.4 | 21.6 70.9 205 10 5 6.6 3.6
9000 22.6 72.7 250 6 3 13.9 7.7 | 22.3 72.1 205 10 5 11.5 6.3
8750 23.7 74.7 250 6 3 11.8 6.5 | 23.2 73.8 200 11 5 10.7 5.9
8500 24.3 75.7 245 6 3 7.8 4.3 | 23.9 75.0 200 11 6 8.0 4.4
8250 24.9 76.8 245 6 3 6.0 3.3 | 24.4 75.9 200 11 6 6.2 3.4
8000 25.5 77.9 245 6 3 12.6 6.9 | 25.0 77.0 200 11 6 10.8 5.9
7750 26.6 79.9 245 5 3 13.5 7.4 | 25.9 78.6 195 11 6 12.1 6.6
7500 27.3 81.1 245 5 3 7.7 4.2 | 26.6 79.9 195 11 6 8.3 4.5
7250 27.9 82.2 240 5 3 7.2 3.9 | 27.2 81.0 195 12 6 7.2 4.0
7000 28.5 83.3 240 5 3 12.2 6.7 | 27.8 82.0 195 12 6 11.2 6.1
6750 29.6 85.3 240 5 2 13.7 7.5 | 28.8 83.8 190 12 6 12.4 6.8
6500 30.4 86.7 235 5 2 9.2 5.0 | 29.6 85.3 190 12 6 9.2 5.0
6250 31.2 88.2 235 5 2 11.0 6.1 | 30.3 86.5 185 11 6 10.5 5.8
6000 31.9 89.4 235 5 2 8.1 4.5 | 31.1 88.0 185 11 6 8.3 4.6
5750 32.6 90.7 235 4 2 12.4 6.8 | 31.6 88.9 185 11 6 9.3 5.1
5500 34.0 93.2 230 4 2 26.7 14.6 | 32.6 90.7 180 10 5 16.4 9.0
________________________________________________________________________________
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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