Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
231
UXUS97 KBOU 081317
SRGBOU
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, Colorado
0614 MST Wednesday, January 8, 2025
This forecast is for Wednesday, January 8, 2025:
If the trigger temperature of 39.7 F/4.3 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Fair
Maximum rate of lift........................ 347 ft/min (1.8 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 10171 ft MSL (4883 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 42.0 F/6.0 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1230 MST
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................. 8206 ft MSL (2918 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Thursday 01/09..... Poor
Wave Soaring Index............................. Poor
Wave Soaring Index trend (to 1700 MST)......... No change
Height of stable layer (12-18K ft MSL)......... None
Weak PVA/NVA (through 1700 MST)................ Neither
Potential height of wave....................... 17369 ft MSL (12081 ft AGL)
Wave soaring outlook for Thursday 01/09........ Poor
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 07:20:33 / 16:52:15 MST
Total possible sunshine........... 9 hr 31 min 41 sec (571 min 41 sec)
Altitude of sun at 12:06:24 MST... 28.09 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 01/08/2025 at 0500 MST
Freezing level.................. Entire airmass below 32 F / 0 C
Convective condensation level... 16251 ft MSL (10963 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 13949 ft MSL (8661 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +14.9
K index......................... -31.9
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 -54.6 -66.3 335 23 12 1.7 0.9 M M M M M
45000 -52.1 -61.8 340 19 10 1.3 0.7 M M M M M
40000 -53.4 -64.1 015 26 14 -0.9 -0.5 M M M M M
38000 -53.7 -64.7 030 35 18 0.4 0.2 M M M M M
36000 -53.5 -64.3 045 55 28 0.4 0.2 M M M M M
34000 -52.9 -63.2 050 77 40 5.7 3.1 M M M M M
32000 -49.2 -56.6 050 81 41 6.1 3.4 M M M M M
30000 -45.4 -49.7 050 83 43 8.1 4.4 32.1 89.7 19.8 M M
29000 -43.1 -45.6 045 81 42 8.0 4.4 31.2 88.2 19.4 M M
28000 -40.7 -41.3 045 80 41 8.0 4.4 30.5 86.9 19.1 M M
27000 -38.3 -36.9 045 78 40 8.0 4.4 29.9 85.9 18.9 M M
26000 -35.9 -32.6 045 76 39 7.9 4.3 29.2 84.5 18.5 M M
25000 -33.5 -28.3 050 73 37 7.9 4.3 28.4 83.2 18.2 M M
24000 -31.2 -24.2 055 70 36 8.2 4.5 27.8 82.1 17.9 M M
23000 -29.9 -21.8 050 61 32 2.2 1.2 25.8 78.4 16.4 M M
22000 -29.2 -20.6 050 49 25 2.1 1.2 22.9 73.3 14.3 M M
21000 -28.6 -19.5 040 36 19 2.3 1.3 20.3 68.5 12.3 M M
20000 -27.4 -17.3 030 28 15 4.2 2.3 18.1 64.6 10.6 M M
19500 -26.8 -16.2 025 25 13 4.2 2.3 17.1 62.8 9.8 M M
19000 -26.1 -15.0 015 22 11 4.2 2.3 16.1 61.0 9.0 M M
18500 -25.5 -13.9 005 19 10 4.2 2.3 15.2 59.4 8.3 M M
18000 -24.8 -12.6 355 18 9 5.6 3.1 14.4 57.9 7.6 M M
17500 -23.9 -11.0 350 16 8 5.4 3.0 13.7 56.6 7.0 M M
17000 -23.1 -9.6 340 16 8 6.5 3.6 13.0 55.4 6.5 M M
16500 -21.6 -6.9 335 15 8 6.6 3.6 12.2 54.0 5.8 M M
16000 -20.5 -4.9 330 15 8 7.6 4.2 11.7 53.1 5.5 M M
15500 -19.4 -2.9 325 15 8 7.5 4.1 11.4 52.5 5.2 M M
15000 -18.2 -0.8 320 14 7 7.3 4.0 11.0 51.8 4.9 M M
14500 -17.2 1.0 315 14 7 7.2 4.0 10.5 51.0 4.5 M M
14000 -16.1 3.0 315 14 7 6.9 3.8 10.1 50.2 4.1 M M
13500 -15.1 4.8 315 13 7 6.8 3.8 9.6 49.3 3.7 M M
13000 -14.0 6.8 315 13 7 6.5 3.6 9.2 48.5 3.3 M M
12500 -13.1 8.4 315 14 7 6.4 3.5 8.6 47.5 2.8 M M
12000 -12.1 10.2 315 14 7 5.9 3.2 8.0 46.5 2.3 M M
11500 -11.3 11.7 310 13 7 5.7 3.1 7.4 45.3 1.7 M M
11000 -10.5 13.1 310 13 7 5.7 3.1 6.7 44.1 1.0 M M
10500 -9.7 14.5 305 12 6 5.7 3.1 6.1 42.9 0.4 M M
10250 -9.2 15.4 300 12 6 5.4 3.0 5.7 42.3 0.1 M M
10000 -8.9 16.0 300 12 6 4.9 2.7 5.4 41.7 -0.3 332 1.7
9750 -8.5 16.7 300 11 6 5.3 2.9 5.0 41.0 -0.7 314 1.6
9500 -8.1 17.4 295 11 6 5.9 3.2 4.7 40.4 -1.0 294 1.5
9250 -7.7 18.1 290 10 5 5.1 2.8 4.4 39.8 -1.3 274 1.4
9000 -7.4 18.7 290 10 5 4.4 2.4 3.9 39.1 -1.7 257 1.3
8750 -7.0 19.4 285 9 5 4.8 2.6 3.5 38.4 -2.1 239 1.2
8500 -6.7 19.9 285 9 4 4.7 2.6 3.2 37.7 -2.5 222 1.1
8250 -6.4 20.5 280 8 4 4.2 2.3 2.7 36.9 -2.9 204 1.0
8000 -6.1 21.0 275 8 4 4.0 2.2 2.3 36.1 -3.4 188 1.0
7750 -5.8 21.6 265 7 4 4.4 2.4 1.9 35.4 -3.8 171 0.9
7500 -5.4 22.3 260 7 4 4.7 2.6 1.5 34.7 -4.2 154 0.8
7250 -5.1 22.8 250 7 4 4.4 2.4 1.1 33.9 -4.6 136 0.7
7000 -4.7 23.5 245 7 3 4.6 2.5 0.7 33.2 -5.0 119 0.6
6750 -4.4 24.1 235 7 3 4.1 2.2 0.3 32.5 -5.4 102 0.5
6500 -4.1 24.6 225 8 4 3.6 2.0 -0.2 31.6 -5.9 86 0.4
6250 -3.8 25.2 215 8 4 6.8 3.7 -0.6 31.0 -6.3 68 0.3
6000 -3.4 25.9 210 9 5 -2.4 -1.3 -1.0 30.3 -6.7 50 0.3
5750 -4.5 23.9 210 10 5 -25.1 -13.8 -2.7 27.1 -8.5 75 0.4
5500 -6.9 19.6 205 8 4 -36.2 -19.9 -5.9 21.3 -11.7 141 0.7
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
01/08/2025 at 0800 MST | 01/08/2025 at 1100 MST
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +11.0 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +10.6
CINH... 0.0 K Index... -39.8 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... -43.6
|
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 -54.2 -65.6 340 22 11 1.1 0.6 | -54.7 -66.5 340 25 13 1.3 0.7
45000 -52.6 -62.7 335 21 11 1.0 0.5 | -52.8 -63.0 335 22 11 1.1 0.6
40000 -55.1 -67.2 010 27 14 -1.7 -0.9 | -58.5 -73.3 015 27 14 -3.8 -2.1
38000 -55.3 -67.5 025 33 17 1.0 0.5 | -58.6 -73.5 030 31 16 3.8 2.1
36000 -54.8 -66.6 040 45 23 1.0 0.5 | -56.3 -69.3 040 34 18 3.8 2.1
34000 -53.8 -64.8 050 58 30 7.2 4.0 | -53.6 -64.5 050 38 20 8.9 4.9
32000 -49.3 -56.7 045 60 31 7.6 4.1 | -48.6 -55.5 045 39 20 8.3 4.6
30000 -44.7 -48.5 045 61 31 7.9 4.4 | -43.7 -46.7 040 39 20 7.5 4.1
29000 -42.4 -44.3 045 59 30 7.8 4.3 | -40.8 -41.4 040 38 20 7.6 4.2
28000 -39.5 -39.1 040 57 29 7.8 4.3 | -38.6 -37.5 045 38 19 7.6 4.2
27000 -37.1 -34.8 040 55 29 7.8 4.3 | -36.3 -33.3 045 37 19 7.3 4.0
26000 -34.8 -30.6 040 54 28 7.7 4.2 | -34.2 -29.6 045 35 18 7.1 3.9
25000 -32.5 -26.5 040 52 27 7.7 4.2 | -32.0 -25.6 045 33 17 7.1 3.9
24000 -30.3 -22.5 045 50 26 7.6 4.2 | -29.9 -21.8 040 31 16 7.2 3.9
23000 -28.1 -18.6 045 47 24 7.2 4.0 | -27.7 -17.9 040 29 15 7.5 4.1
22000 -25.9 -14.6 050 43 22 7.2 4.0 | -25.4 -13.7 045 26 14 7.5 4.1
21000 -23.7 -10.7 050 40 21 6.0 3.3 | -23.2 -9.8 045 24 12 6.4 3.5
20000 -22.3 -8.1 045 36 19 4.7 2.6 | -21.5 -6.7 040 22 11 5.8 3.2
19500 -21.6 -6.9 045 34 17 4.7 2.6 | -20.6 -5.1 040 21 11 5.8 3.2
19000 -20.9 -5.6 045 32 17 4.7 2.6 | -19.7 -3.5 035 20 10 5.8 3.2
18500 -20.2 -4.4 040 30 16 4.5 2.5 | -18.9 -2.0 035 19 10 5.9 3.3
18000 -19.6 -3.3 035 28 14 4.2 2.3 | -17.9 -0.2 030 18 10 6.1 3.3
17500 -18.9 -2.0 030 25 13 4.4 2.4 | -17.0 1.4 030 18 9 6.2 3.4
17000 -18.4 -1.1 025 22 12 2.8 1.6 | -16.2 2.8 030 17 9 4.7 2.6
16500 -18.0 -0.4 020 20 10 2.9 1.6 | -15.5 4.1 025 16 8 4.8 2.7
16000 -17.5 0.5 010 17 9 3.3 1.8 | -14.8 5.4 020 15 8 4.3 2.4
15500 -17.0 1.4 360 16 8 3.5 1.9 | -14.2 6.4 010 14 7 4.2 2.3
15000 -16.5 2.3 350 15 8 4.1 2.2 | -13.5 7.7 360 14 7 4.2 2.3
14500 -15.7 3.7 340 15 8 5.2 2.9 | -12.9 8.8 355 14 7 4.3 2.4
14000 -14.9 5.2 330 15 8 5.4 2.9 | -12.2 10.0 350 14 7 4.4 2.4
13500 -13.6 7.5 325 15 8 6.1 3.4 | -11.2 11.8 340 15 8 4.6 2.5
13000 -12.7 9.1 320 15 8 6.1 3.3 | -10.5 13.1 335 15 8 5.2 2.9
12500 -11.8 10.8 320 15 8 6.0 3.3 | -9.7 14.5 330 15 8 5.4 3.0
12000 -10.9 12.4 320 14 7 5.9 3.3 | -8.9 16.0 325 15 8 5.0 2.8
11500 -10.0 14.0 320 13 7 5.9 3.2 | -8.2 17.2 320 14 7 4.9 2.7
11000 -9.1 15.6 315 12 6 5.8 3.2 | -7.4 18.7 315 12 6 4.7 2.6
10500 -8.3 17.1 315 12 6 6.2 3.4 | -6.7 19.9 310 11 6 4.9 2.7
10250 -7.8 18.0 310 12 6 4.4 2.4 | -6.4 20.5 305 10 5 3.6 2.0
10000 -7.6 18.3 310 11 6 2.1 1.1 | -6.2 20.8 300 10 5 2.5 1.4
9750 -7.4 18.7 310 11 6 5.8 3.2 | -6.0 21.2 300 10 5 4.8 2.6
9500 -6.8 19.8 305 11 5 9.1 5.0 | -5.5 22.1 290 9 5 6.2 3.4
9250 -6.2 20.8 300 10 5 5.7 3.1 | -5.1 22.8 280 9 5 5.1 2.8
9000 -6.0 21.2 300 10 5 2.6 1.4 | -4.8 23.4 280 9 5 4.0 2.2
8750 -5.7 21.7 295 10 5 5.9 3.2 | -4.4 24.1 275 9 4 6.9 3.8
8500 -5.2 22.6 290 9 5 7.4 4.1 | -3.8 25.2 270 9 4 8.9 4.9
8250 -4.7 23.5 285 9 5 4.7 2.6 | -3.2 26.2 270 9 4 8.0 4.4
8000 -4.4 24.1 280 9 5 3.8 2.1 | -2.6 27.3 270 9 5 7.2 3.9
7750 -4.1 24.6 280 9 5 4.7 2.6 | -2.0 28.4 275 10 5 10.2 5.6
7500 -3.8 25.2 275 9 5 4.6 2.5 | -1.2 29.8 280 11 6 7.3 4.0
7250 -3.5 25.7 270 9 5 4.1 2.2 | -1.0 30.2 280 12 6 2.1 1.2
7000 -3.2 26.2 270 9 5 4.0 2.2 | -0.8 30.6 285 13 7 4.0 2.2
6750 -2.9 26.8 265 9 5 4.8 2.6 | -0.5 31.1 285 15 8 1.8 1.0
6500 -2.6 27.3 265 9 5 1.9 1.0 | -0.5 31.1 280 14 7 -0.7 -0.4
6250 -2.5 27.5 265 9 5 1.8 1.0 | -0.6 30.9 270 12 6 0.3 0.2
6000 -2.5 27.5 265 9 4 -6.1 -3.3 | -0.6 30.9 255 10 5 -2.9 -1.6
5750 -3.8 25.2 255 9 4 -28.4 -15.6 | -1.0 30.2 240 8 4 -3.4 -1.9
5500 -6.5 20.3 230 7 3 -38.9 -21.3 | -1.0 30.2 225 6 3 5.5 3.0
01/08/2025 at 1400 MST | 01/08/2025 at 1700 MST
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +9.8 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +8.7
CINH... 0.0 K Index... -39.7 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... -15.5
|
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 -55.8 -68.4 340 22 11 1.3 0.7 | -55.3 -67.5 335 23 12 2.1 1.1
45000 -53.8 -64.8 340 24 12 0.5 0.3 | -52.1 -61.8 340 23 12 -1.4 -0.8
40000 -58.7 -73.7 005 22 11 -3.2 -1.8 | -55.7 -68.3 315 23 12 -2.4 -1.3
38000 -58.4 -73.1 010 22 11 4.2 2.3 | -56.0 -68.8 310 23 12 2.0 1.1
36000 -55.9 -68.6 010 21 11 4.2 2.3 | -54.8 -66.6 305 20 10 2.0 1.1
34000 -53.0 -63.4 015 20 10 8.6 4.7 | -53.2 -63.8 295 18 9 8.2 4.5
32000 -48.1 -54.6 015 20 11 8.2 4.5 | -48.6 -55.5 300 17 9 7.7 4.2
30000 -43.3 -45.9 015 21 11 7.5 4.1 | -43.4 -46.1 300 15 8 7.8 4.3
29000 -40.4 -40.7 020 20 10 7.6 4.2 | -41.0 -41.8 300 14 7 7.8 4.3
28000 -38.1 -36.6 020 19 10 7.6 4.2 | -38.7 -37.7 300 13 7 7.8 4.3
27000 -35.9 -32.6 020 18 9 7.8 4.3 | -36.4 -33.5 305 12 6 7.9 4.3
26000 -33.5 -28.3 025 18 9 7.9 4.3 | -34.0 -29.2 300 12 6 8.0 4.4
25000 -31.1 -24.0 025 17 9 7.9 4.3 | -31.6 -24.9 300 12 6 8.0 4.4
24000 -28.8 -19.8 025 16 8 7.7 4.2 | -29.2 -20.6 300 11 6 7.9 4.3
23000 -26.7 -16.1 025 15 8 6.9 3.8 | -27.1 -16.8 300 12 6 7.0 3.9
22000 -24.6 -12.3 020 13 7 6.9 3.8 | -25.0 -13.0 305 13 7 7.0 3.9
21000 -22.6 -8.7 015 12 6 6.7 3.7 | -22.9 -9.2 310 14 7 7.1 3.9
20000 -20.6 -5.1 005 13 6 6.5 3.6 | -20.7 -5.3 315 16 8 7.1 3.9
19500 -19.6 -3.3 360 13 7 6.5 3.6 | -19.7 -3.5 315 17 9 7.1 3.9
19000 -18.7 -1.7 360 13 7 6.5 3.6 | -18.6 -1.5 315 18 9 7.1 3.9
18500 -17.7 0.1 355 13 7 6.6 3.6 | -17.5 0.5 315 19 10 7.2 3.9
18000 -16.7 1.9 355 14 7 6.8 3.7 | -16.5 2.3 320 19 10 7.3 4.0
17500 -15.6 3.9 350 14 7 7.0 3.8 | -15.4 4.3 320 18 9 7.4 4.0
17000 -14.7 5.5 350 14 7 5.6 3.1 | -14.3 6.3 325 18 9 6.3 3.4
16500 -13.8 7.2 350 14 7 5.7 3.1 | -13.4 7.9 325 18 9 6.2 3.4
16000 -12.9 8.8 345 14 7 5.4 3.0 | -12.5 9.5 330 17 9 5.8 3.2
15500 -12.2 10.0 345 14 7 5.3 2.9 | -11.7 10.9 330 17 9 5.4 2.9
15000 -11.0 12.2 345 14 7 4.6 2.5 | -10.5 13.1 335 16 8 5.5 3.0
14500 -10.3 13.5 340 14 7 4.5 2.5 | -9.7 14.5 335 15 8 5.5 3.0
14000 -9.7 14.5 340 14 7 4.3 2.4 | -8.8 16.2 335 15 8 5.3 2.9
13500 -9.0 15.8 335 14 7 4.3 2.3 | -8.1 17.4 335 15 8 5.1 2.8
13000 -8.4 16.9 335 14 7 4.4 2.4 | -7.3 18.9 335 15 8 5.1 2.8
12500 -7.7 18.1 330 14 7 4.6 2.5 | -6.5 20.3 330 14 7 5.0 2.7
12000 -7.0 19.4 330 14 7 4.8 2.6 | -5.8 21.6 330 14 7 4.8 2.6
11500 -6.3 20.7 320 14 7 4.9 2.7 | -5.1 22.8 320 12 6 4.4 2.4
11000 -5.5 22.1 315 14 7 4.7 2.6 | -4.4 24.1 310 10 5 4.2 2.3
10500 -4.9 23.2 305 12 6 4.7 2.6 | -3.8 25.2 295 9 5 3.7 2.0
10250 -4.5 23.9 295 12 6 3.8 2.1 | -3.5 25.7 290 9 5 3.7 2.0
10000 -4.3 24.3 290 11 6 3.3 1.8 | -3.3 26.1 280 9 5 3.7 2.0
9750 -4.0 24.8 290 11 6 5.1 2.8 | -2.9 26.8 280 9 5 5.5 3.0
9500 -3.6 25.5 285 11 5 6.0 3.3 | -2.5 27.5 275 9 5 6.8 3.7
9250 -3.1 26.4 280 10 5 5.5 3.0 | -2.0 28.4 270 9 4 6.4 3.5
9000 -2.7 27.1 275 10 5 5.3 2.9 | -1.5 29.3 270 9 4 6.5 3.5
8750 -2.3 27.9 275 10 5 7.3 4.0 | -1.0 30.2 270 9 5 7.1 3.9
8500 -1.7 28.9 275 10 5 8.9 4.9 | -0.5 31.1 275 11 6 7.9 4.3
8250 -1.0 30.2 275 11 5 7.8 4.3 | 0.1 32.2 275 12 6 6.8 3.7
8000 -0.5 31.1 275 12 6 7.8 4.3 | 0.5 32.9 280 14 7 5.3 2.9
7750 0.0 32.0 280 14 7 5.7 3.1 | 0.9 33.6 280 16 8 4.4 2.4
7500 0.3 32.5 285 17 9 3.8 2.1 | 1.2 34.2 280 17 9 3.8 2.1
7250 0.6 33.1 285 17 9 4.8 2.6 | 1.4 34.5 280 17 9 4.1 2.3
7000 0.9 33.6 280 15 8 4.4 2.4 | 1.7 35.1 280 17 9 4.2 2.3
6750 1.3 34.3 275 13 7 5.5 3.0 | 2.0 35.6 280 16 8 4.2 2.3
6500 1.7 35.1 270 11 6 3.8 2.1 | 2.3 36.1 280 14 7 3.7 2.0
6250 1.8 35.2 260 9 5 1.5 0.8 | 2.5 36.5 275 12 6 2.9 1.6
6000 1.9 35.4 250 7 4 2.1 1.1 | 2.7 36.9 270 10 5 3.5 1.9
5750 2.0 35.6 230 6 3 2.6 1.4 | 2.9 37.2 265 8 4 1.2 0.7
5500 2.3 36.1 210 5 3 6.7 3.7 | 2.6 36.7 245 5 3 -10.0 -5.5
________________________________________________________________________________
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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