National Weather Service Text Product
AFOS product SRGBOU
Dates interpreted at 00:00 UTCDisplaying AFOS PIL: SRGBOU
Product Timestamp: 2014-05-06 12:35 UTC
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073
UXUS97 KBOU 061235
SRGBOU
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, Colorado
0635 MDT Tuesday, May 6, 2014
This forecast is for Tuesday, May 6, 2014:
If the trigger temperature of 73.3 F/23.0 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1344 ft/min (6.8 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 18959 ft MSL (13674 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 79.0 F/26.6 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1045 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................. 9476 ft MSL (4190 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Wednesday 05/07.... 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)................ Weak PVA
Potential height of wave....................... 14405 ft MSL (9120 ft AGL)
Wave soaring outlook for Wednesday 05/07....... Poor
Remarks... None
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:54:08 / 19:57:50 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 3 min 41 sec (843 min 41 sec)
Altitude of sun at 12:56:10 MDT... 66.90 degrees
Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 05/06/2014 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 13405 ft MSL (8120 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 21686 ft MSL (16401 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 21434 ft MSL (16149 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +0.0
K index......................... -9.4
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 -60.9 -77.6 245 39 20 -1.3 -0.7 96.5 205.8 40.4 M M
45000 -60.0 -76.0 245 44 23 -5.9 -3.2 73.3 164.0 29.0 M M
40000 -64.2 -83.6 215 54 28 6.3 3.5 43.7 110.7 11.6 M M
38000 -59.8 -75.6 230 53 27 8.0 4.4 41.6 106.9 10.5 M M
36000 -55.0 -67.0 225 57 29 8.2 4.5 40.0 104.0 9.7 M M
34000 -50.0 -58.0 225 52 27 8.9 4.9 38.9 102.0 9.1 M M
32000 -44.5 -48.1 230 48 25 6.0 3.3 37.4 99.4 8.3 M M
30000 -40.6 -41.1 235 45 23 9.7 5.3 34.7 94.4 6.5 M M
29000 -37.8 -36.0 240 44 23 8.5 4.7 34.5 94.2 6.4 M M
28000 -35.2 -31.4 240 43 22 8.0 4.4 34.1 93.4 6.2 M M
27000 -33.7 -28.7 235 39 20 4.8 2.6 32.3 90.2 4.8 M M
26000 -32.2 -26.0 230 35 18 4.7 2.6 30.4 86.7 3.4 M M
25000 -30.7 -23.3 225 31 16 5.1 2.8 28.7 83.6 2.0 M M
24000 -28.5 -19.3 220 30 15 8.9 4.9 27.7 81.9 1.3 M M
23000 -25.8 -14.4 220 28 14 9.2 5.0 27.5 81.5 1.1 M M
22000 -23.0 -9.4 220 26 13 9.1 5.0 27.3 81.2 1.0 M M
21000 -20.4 -4.7 220 23 12 8.7 4.8 26.9 80.5 0.7 M M
20000 -17.8 -0.0 220 21 11 8.7 4.8 26.6 79.9 0.4 M M
19500 -16.5 2.3 220 19 10 8.6 4.7 26.4 79.6 0.2 M M
19000 -15.2 4.6 215 17 9 8.6 4.7 26.2 79.2 0.0 M M
18500 -13.9 7.0 210 15 8 9.1 5.0 26.1 78.9 -0.1 1304 6.6
18000 -12.5 9.5 210 14 7 9.3 5.1 25.9 78.7 -0.2 1247 6.3
17500 -11.1 12.0 210 13 7 9.3 5.1 25.9 78.6 -0.3 1190 6.0
17000 -9.7 14.5 215 13 7 9.3 5.1 25.8 78.4 -0.3 1134 5.8
16500 -8.3 17.1 215 12 6 9.3 5.1 25.8 78.4 -0.4 1077 5.5
16000 -6.2 20.8 220 11 6 9.3 5.1 25.7 78.3 -0.4 991 5.0
15500 -4.8 23.4 230 13 7 9.5 5.2 25.6 78.1 -0.5 935 4.7
15000 -3.5 25.7 240 15 8 7.8 4.3 25.4 77.8 -0.7 881 4.5
14500 -2.3 27.9 250 17 9 7.8 4.3 25.1 77.2 -1.0 831 4.2
14000 -1.2 29.8 255 19 10 7.8 4.3 24.8 76.6 -1.3 782 4.0
13500 -0.0 32.0 260 21 11 7.8 4.3 24.4 76.0 -1.7 733 3.7
13000 1.1 34.0 265 23 12 7.9 4.3 24.1 75.4 -2.0 684 3.5
12500 2.3 36.1 265 24 13 7.8 4.3 23.8 74.9 -2.3 635 3.2
12000 3.5 38.3 270 26 13 9.4 5.1 23.7 74.6 -2.5 582 3.0
11500 4.9 40.8 270 23 12 9.2 5.1 23.5 74.4 -2.7 525 2.7
11000 6.3 43.3 270 20 10 9.2 5.1 23.4 74.2 -2.8 469 2.4
10500 7.7 45.9 265 17 9 9.2 5.1 23.4 74.0 -2.8 413 2.1
10250 8.4 47.1 265 16 8 9.2 5.1 23.3 74.0 -2.9 384 2.0
10000 9.1 48.4 265 14 7 9.2 5.0 23.3 73.9 -2.9 356 1.8
9750 9.8 49.6 265 14 7 9.2 5.0 23.3 73.9 -3.0 328 1.7
9500 10.5 50.9 265 14 7 9.2 5.0 23.2 73.8 -3.0 300 1.5
9250 11.1 52.0 265 15 8 9.2 5.0 23.2 73.7 -3.0 272 1.4
9000 11.8 53.2 265 15 8 9.2 5.0 23.2 73.7 -3.1 244 1.2
8750 12.5 54.5 265 14 7 9.2 5.0 23.1 73.6 -3.1 216 1.1
8500 13.2 55.8 265 13 7 9.2 5.0 23.1 73.5 -3.2 188 1.0
8250 13.9 57.0 265 12 6 9.2 5.0 23.0 73.4 -3.2 160 0.8
8000 14.6 58.3 265 11 6 9.2 5.0 23.0 73.4 -3.3 132 0.7
7750 15.3 59.5 255 11 5 9.2 5.0 22.9 73.3 -3.4 104 0.5
7500 16.0 60.8 245 10 5 9.2 5.1 22.9 73.2 -3.4 76 0.4
7250 16.6 61.9 235 10 5 9.0 5.0 22.8 73.1 -3.5 48 0.2
7000 17.3 63.1 225 11 6 9.7 5.3 22.8 73.0 -3.5 20 0.1
6750 18.0 64.4 225 13 7 7.2 3.9 22.7 72.9 -3.6 M M
6500 18.3 64.9 220 16 8 2.2 1.2 22.3 72.1 -4.0 M M
6250 18.5 65.3 220 18 9 5.0 2.8 21.8 71.2 -4.6 M M
6000 18.7 65.7 220 21 11 -6.3 -3.5 21.2 70.2 -5.1 M M
5750 17.3 63.1 215 15 8 -27.9 -15.3 19.1 66.3 -7.3 M M
5500 14.7 58.5 210 9 4 -34.7 -19.0 15.9 60.6 -10.6 54 0.3
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
05/06/2014 at 0900 MDT | 05/06/2014 at 1200 MDT
|
K index... +5.6 LI... +3.3 | K index... +4.5 LI... +4.3
CAPE... 0.0 CIN... M | CAPE... 0.0 CIN... -0.1
|
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 -60.4 -76.7 245 30 15 0.1 0.0 | -60.5 -76.9 235 27 14 0.2 0.1
45000 -60.3 -76.5 240 45 23 -0.5 -0.3 | -60.2 -76.4 235 44 23 -0.1 -0.1
40000 -61.6 -78.9 235 55 28 -0.9 -0.5 | -60.8 -77.4 230 59 31 -0.4 -0.2
38000 -59.5 -75.1 230 56 29 6.8 3.7 | -59.2 -74.6 230 61 31 5.3 2.9
36000 -55.4 -67.7 230 55 28 6.8 3.7 | -55.9 -68.6 225 59 30 5.4 2.9
34000 -51.1 -60.0 225 54 28 8.0 4.4 | -51.8 -61.2 225 56 29 8.2 4.5
32000 -45.6 -50.1 220 49 25 8.1 4.4 | -46.8 -52.2 225 52 27 8.3 4.5
30000 -40.9 -41.6 220 45 23 7.5 4.1 | -41.9 -43.4 225 49 25 7.7 4.2
29000 -38.7 -37.7 220 42 22 7.5 4.1 | -39.7 -39.5 230 47 24 7.7 4.2
28000 -36.4 -33.5 220 39 20 7.5 4.1 | -37.4 -35.3 230 44 23 7.7 4.2
27000 -34.2 -29.6 220 37 19 6.2 3.4 | -35.1 -31.2 230 42 22 7.4 4.1
26000 -32.4 -26.3 220 34 17 6.1 3.4 | -32.9 -27.2 230 40 20 7.3 4.0
25000 -30.6 -23.1 215 31 16 6.1 3.4 | -30.7 -23.3 230 37 19 7.3 4.0
24000 -28.7 -19.7 210 28 14 8.0 4.4 | -28.5 -19.3 225 34 18 8.1 4.4
23000 -25.9 -14.6 215 26 14 9.5 5.2 | -25.8 -14.4 225 32 16 8.9 4.9
22000 -23.0 -9.4 215 25 13 9.5 5.2 | -23.1 -9.6 225 29 15 8.9 4.9
21000 -20.2 -4.4 220 24 12 8.5 4.7 | -20.4 -4.7 225 27 14 9.2 5.0
20000 -17.7 0.1 220 22 11 8.4 4.6 | -17.6 0.3 220 25 13 9.2 5.1
19500 -16.4 2.5 220 22 11 8.4 4.6 | -16.3 2.7 220 24 12 9.2 5.1
19000 -15.1 4.8 215 21 11 8.4 4.6 | -14.9 5.2 215 23 12 9.2 5.0
18500 -13.9 7.0 215 20 10 8.0 4.4 | -13.5 7.7 215 23 12 8.4 4.6
18000 -12.7 9.1 220 21 11 7.8 4.3 | -12.3 9.9 215 22 11 7.8 4.3
17500 -11.6 11.1 220 21 11 7.8 4.3 | -11.2 11.8 215 20 11 7.8 4.3
17000 -10.4 13.3 220 22 11 8.0 4.4 | -10.2 13.6 215 20 10 6.2 3.4
16500 -9.2 15.4 220 22 11 8.0 4.4 | -8.8 16.2 215 19 10 6.4 3.5
16000 -7.5 18.5 215 22 12 8.2 4.5 | -7.8 18.0 215 19 10 7.0 3.9
15500 -6.3 20.7 215 22 11 8.1 4.5 | -6.7 19.9 215 19 10 6.9 3.8
15000 -5.0 23.0 215 21 11 8.9 4.9 | -5.7 21.7 215 19 10 8.0 4.4
14500 -3.7 25.3 215 20 10 8.9 4.9 | -4.5 23.9 215 18 9 8.0 4.4
14000 -2.3 27.9 215 19 10 9.0 4.9 | -3.3 26.1 215 18 9 8.9 4.9
13500 -1.0 30.2 215 17 9 9.0 4.9 | -1.9 28.6 215 17 9 9.3 5.1
13000 0.4 32.7 215 15 8 8.8 4.8 | -0.5 31.1 215 16 8 8.7 4.8
12500 1.7 35.1 220 14 7 8.6 4.7 | 0.7 33.3 215 14 7 8.1 4.4
12000 3.0 37.4 225 13 7 8.3 4.6 | 1.9 35.4 220 12 6 8.3 4.5
11500 4.2 39.6 225 11 6 7.9 4.3 | 3.2 37.8 215 9 5 8.7 4.8
11000 5.4 41.7 230 9 5 7.9 4.3 | 4.6 40.3 205 7 4 8.5 4.7
10500 6.6 43.9 245 8 4 7.9 4.3 | 5.8 42.4 220 6 3 7.8 4.3
10250 7.2 45.0 250 8 4 8.5 4.7 | 6.4 43.5 230 6 3 8.7 4.8
10000 7.8 46.0 260 9 5 8.6 4.7 | 7.1 44.8 245 7 4 8.8 4.8
9750 8.5 47.3 265 10 5 7.9 4.3 | 7.7 45.9 255 7 4 7.7 4.2
9500 9.1 48.4 270 12 6 8.0 4.4 | 8.2 46.8 265 7 4 7.9 4.3
9250 9.7 49.5 275 13 7 7.6 4.2 | 8.8 47.8 275 7 4 7.0 3.8
9000 10.2 50.4 280 14 7 7.5 4.1 | 9.3 48.7 280 8 4 7.5 4.1
8750 10.8 51.4 280 16 8 8.0 4.4 | 9.9 49.8 285 8 4 9.3 5.1
8500 11.4 52.5 285 17 9 7.9 4.3 | 10.6 51.1 290 8 4 9.1 5.0
8250 12.0 53.6 285 18 9 8.3 4.5 | 11.3 52.3 295 8 4 9.8 5.4
8000 12.6 54.7 285 19 10 6.9 3.8 | 12.1 53.8 295 8 4 10.9 6.0
7750 13.0 55.4 285 21 11 4.9 2.7 | 12.9 55.2 295 7 4 9.8 5.4
7500 13.4 56.1 285 21 11 4.8 2.7 | 13.5 56.3 295 7 4 8.8 4.8
7250 13.7 56.7 285 22 11 5.1 2.8 | 14.2 57.6 300 7 4 9.4 5.2
7000 14.1 57.4 285 22 11 5.5 3.0 | 15.0 59.0 300 7 4 10.2 5.6
6750 14.5 58.1 285 20 10 4.9 2.7 | 15.7 60.3 300 7 4 10.2 5.6
6500 14.9 58.8 285 18 9 4.9 2.7 | 16.5 61.7 300 7 4 9.9 5.4
6250 15.2 59.4 280 15 8 3.3 1.8 | 17.2 63.0 300 7 4 10.1 5.6
6000 15.3 59.5 275 12 6 1.6 0.9 | 18.0 64.4 300 7 4 10.6 5.8
5750 15.4 59.7 270 9 5 3.6 2.0 | 18.8 65.8 300 7 4 10.9 6.0
5500 15.8 60.4 260 6 3 8.8 4.8 | 19.7 67.5 300 6 3 15.6 8.6
05/06/2014 at 1500 MDT | 05/06/2014 at 1800 MDT
|
K index... +10.4 LI... +2.3 | K index... +18.2 LI... -0.0
CAPE... 0.0 CIN... -0.6 | CAPE... +57.4 CIN... -20.6
|
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 -60.2 -76.4 240 32 16 0.4 0.2 | -60.2 -76.4 240 32 16 0.5 0.3
45000 -59.6 -75.3 235 49 25 0.4 0.2 | -59.4 -74.9 245 46 24 -0.3 -0.1
40000 -59.1 -74.4 240 62 32 0.3 0.2 | -60.8 -77.4 240 62 32 -0.9 -0.5
38000 -57.7 -71.9 240 62 32 4.0 2.2 | -59.0 -74.2 240 62 32 6.1 3.3
36000 -55.4 -67.7 245 56 29 4.0 2.2 | -55.4 -67.7 245 58 30 6.1 3.3
34000 -52.5 -62.5 245 51 26 8.5 4.7 | -51.4 -60.5 245 54 28 8.8 4.9
32000 -46.9 -52.4 240 46 24 8.3 4.6 | -45.4 -49.7 240 52 27 8.8 4.8
30000 -41.9 -43.4 240 43 22 8.0 4.4 | -40.5 -40.9 235 51 26 6.9 3.8
29000 -39.5 -39.1 240 43 22 8.0 4.4 | -38.5 -37.3 240 50 26 6.9 3.8
28000 -37.1 -34.8 235 43 22 8.0 4.4 | -36.4 -33.5 240 50 26 6.9 3.8
27000 -34.7 -30.5 235 43 22 7.5 4.1 | -34.4 -29.9 240 50 26 7.0 3.8
26000 -32.5 -26.5 235 42 22 7.4 4.0 | -32.3 -26.1 240 47 24 7.0 3.8
25000 -30.3 -22.5 235 41 21 7.4 4.1 | -30.2 -22.4 240 45 23 7.0 3.8
24000 -28.1 -18.6 230 40 21 8.0 4.4 | -28.1 -18.6 245 42 22 7.4 4.0
23000 -25.5 -13.9 230 39 20 8.7 4.8 | -25.7 -14.3 240 41 21 7.9 4.4
22000 -22.9 -9.2 230 37 19 8.7 4.8 | -23.4 -10.1 235 40 21 7.9 4.4
21000 -20.3 -4.5 230 36 18 8.5 4.7 | -21.0 -5.8 230 39 20 8.4 4.6
20000 -17.8 -0.0 230 35 18 8.5 4.7 | -18.5 -1.3 225 35 18 8.5 4.7
19500 -16.5 2.3 230 34 18 8.5 4.7 | -17.2 1.0 220 33 17 8.5 4.7
19000 -15.2 4.6 230 34 17 8.5 4.7 | -16.0 3.2 215 31 16 8.5 4.7
18500 -13.9 7.0 230 33 17 8.6 4.7 | -14.7 5.5 210 30 15 8.4 4.6
18000 -12.6 9.3 225 32 17 8.6 4.7 | -13.5 7.7 205 28 14 8.4 4.6
17500 -11.4 11.5 225 31 16 8.8 4.8 | -12.2 10.0 200 26 14 8.2 4.5
17000 -10.2 13.6 225 30 15 7.4 4.1 | -10.9 12.4 195 25 13 9.5 5.2
16500 -8.5 16.7 225 27 14 7.6 4.2 | -9.6 14.7 195 24 12 9.4 5.1
16000 -7.4 18.7 220 25 13 7.6 4.2 | -7.4 18.7 190 23 12 9.9 5.4
15500 -6.3 20.7 215 23 12 7.6 4.2 | -6.0 21.2 190 22 11 9.9 5.4
15000 -5.1 22.8 210 21 11 7.9 4.4 | -4.5 23.9 190 22 11 9.3 5.1
14500 -4.0 24.8 210 20 10 8.0 4.4 | -3.1 26.4 185 20 10 9.2 5.1
14000 -2.8 27.0 205 19 10 8.3 4.5 | -1.8 28.8 180 19 10 9.2 5.0
13500 -1.5 29.3 205 18 9 8.5 4.6 | -0.4 31.3 175 17 9 9.2 5.0
13000 -0.3 31.5 205 17 9 8.6 4.7 | 1.0 33.8 170 15 8 9.1 5.0
12500 1.1 34.0 200 15 8 8.9 4.9 | 2.3 36.1 160 14 7 8.9 4.9
12000 2.4 36.3 200 14 7 8.9 4.9 | 3.6 38.5 150 12 6 8.9 4.9
11500 3.7 38.7 195 11 6 8.9 4.9 | 5.0 41.0 145 11 6 9.2 5.1
11000 5.0 41.0 190 9 4 8.7 4.8 | 6.4 43.5 140 11 5 9.2 5.1
10500 6.3 43.3 185 6 3 8.0 4.4 | 7.7 45.9 135 10 5 9.5 5.2
10250 6.9 44.4 180 5 3 9.1 5.0 | 8.5 47.3 135 10 5 9.6 5.3
10000 7.6 45.7 170 5 2 10.1 5.5 | 9.2 48.6 130 10 5 9.9 5.4
9750 8.3 46.9 165 4 2 9.8 5.4 | 9.9 49.8 130 9 5 10.0 5.5
9500 9.1 48.4 165 4 2 9.9 5.5 | 10.7 51.3 130 9 5 10.5 5.8
9250 9.8 49.6 160 3 2 9.5 5.2 | 11.5 52.7 125 9 4 8.9 4.9
9000 10.5 50.9 160 3 2 9.2 5.0 | 12.0 53.6 125 8 4 7.7 4.2
8750 11.2 52.2 160 3 2 9.5 5.2 | 12.7 54.9 125 8 4 10.1 5.5
8500 11.9 53.4 155 3 2 9.9 5.4 | 13.5 56.3 120 8 4 10.9 6.0
8250 12.7 54.9 155 3 1 9.1 5.0 | 14.3 57.7 120 7 4 11.6 6.4
8000 13.4 56.1 155 3 1 12.0 6.6 | 15.1 59.2 120 7 4 7.9 4.4
7750 14.4 57.9 155 2 1 11.5 6.3 | 15.6 60.1 115 7 4 7.0 3.9
7500 15.0 59.0 150 2 1 8.2 4.5 | 16.3 61.3 115 7 4 10.2 5.6
7250 15.7 60.3 150 2 1 9.2 5.1 | 17.0 62.6 115 7 3 9.2 5.1
7000 16.4 61.5 150 2 1 9.8 5.4 | 17.7 63.9 110 7 3 10.4 5.7
6750 17.2 63.0 150 2 1 10.2 5.6 | 18.5 65.3 110 6 3 10.5 5.8
6500 17.9 64.2 150 2 1 9.8 5.4 | 19.3 66.7 110 6 3 10.0 5.5
6250 18.7 65.7 145 2 1 10.1 5.5 | 20.0 68.0 105 6 3 9.9 5.4
6000 19.4 66.9 145 1 1 11.0 6.0 | 20.7 69.3 105 6 3 9.1 5.0
5750 20.2 68.4 140 1 1 9.2 5.1 | 21.5 70.7 105 6 3 11.6 6.4
5500 21.0 69.8 140 1 1 14.5 7.9 | 22.5 72.5 105 5 3 16.5 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.
CIN (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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