Soaring Forecast for Moriarty NM
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
0708 MDT Thursday April 25 2024
This forecast is for Thursday, April 25, 2024:
If the trigger temperature of 64.0 F/17.8 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Fair
Maximum rate of lift........................ 894 ft/min (4.5 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 16262 ft MSL (9935 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 72.0 F/22.7 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0945 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ None
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ More than 30 mph
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 13642 ft MSL (7315 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Friday 04/26....... Good
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:18:47 / 19:44:53 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 13 hr 26 min 6 sec (806 min 6 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:01:50 MDT... 68.56 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 04/25/2024 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 12518 ft MSL (6191 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 19329 ft MSL (13002 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 18483 ft MSL (12157 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +2.6
K index......................... -1.3
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 -55.2 -67.4 245 53 27 4.9 2.7 98.0 208.4 44.5 M M
45000 -49.6 -57.3 245 71 36 -3.7 -2.0 83.5 182.3 38.4 M M
40000 -55.0 -67.0 240 81 42 -3.9 -2.1 52.8 127.1 20.5 M M
38000 -53.4 -64.1 235 82 42 4.2 2.3 46.3 115.3 16.6 M M
36000 -50.9 -59.6 235 82 42 4.2 2.3 41.6 106.9 13.7 M M
34000 -47.7 -53.9 235 81 42 7.0 3.9 38.1 100.5 11.5 M M
32000 -43.0 -45.4 235 79 41 7.0 3.8 35.5 95.9 9.9 M M
30000 -38.6 -37.5 235 77 39 7.7 4.2 33.7 92.6 8.7 M M
29000 -36.2 -33.2 235 75 39 7.7 4.3 32.9 91.2 8.2 M M
28000 -33.9 -29.0 235 73 38 7.8 4.3 32.2 89.9 7.8 M M
27000 -31.5 -24.7 235 71 36 8.2 4.5 31.5 88.8 7.4 M M
26000 -29.1 -20.4 230 68 35 8.2 4.5 30.9 87.6 6.9 M M
25000 -26.6 -15.9 230 66 34 8.2 4.5 30.4 86.7 6.6 M M
24000 -24.3 -11.7 230 64 33 6.3 3.4 29.7 85.5 6.1 M M
23000 -22.3 -8.1 225 62 32 6.5 3.6 28.5 83.2 5.1 M M
22000 -20.4 -4.7 220 61 32 6.6 3.6 27.3 81.2 4.2 M M
21000 -18.4 -1.1 215 60 31 7.6 4.2 26.4 79.5 3.5 M M
20000 -16.1 3.0 210 59 30 7.6 4.1 25.6 78.0 2.8 M M
19500 -15.0 5.0 210 58 30 7.6 4.1 25.2 77.3 2.5 M M
19000 -13.8 7.2 210 58 30 7.6 4.1 24.9 76.7 2.2 M M
18500 -12.7 9.1 210 57 29 7.6 4.2 24.5 76.1 1.9 M M
18000 -11.6 11.1 210 56 29 7.5 4.1 24.1 75.4 1.6 M M
17500 -9.9 14.2 210 53 27 6.7 3.7 23.5 74.3 1.1 M M
17000 -8.9 16.0 210 50 26 6.7 3.7 23.0 73.4 0.6 M M
16500 -7.9 17.8 215 47 24 6.3 3.4 22.5 72.5 0.2 M M
16000 -7.0 19.4 215 44 23 5.9 3.3 21.9 71.3 -0.4 864 4.4
15500 -6.2 20.8 215 40 21 5.9 3.3 21.2 70.2 -1.0 824 4.2
15000 -5.3 22.5 220 38 20 5.9 3.2 20.6 69.1 -1.7 784 4.0
14500 -4.5 23.9 220 36 18 5.7 3.1 20.0 67.9 -2.3 744 3.8
14000 -3.5 25.7 220 34 17 8.1 4.4 19.5 67.1 -2.8 700 3.6
13500 -2.4 27.7 220 33 17 7.9 4.3 19.2 66.6 -3.1 651 3.3
13000 -1.2 29.8 220 31 16 8.9 4.9 19.0 66.2 -3.4 600 3.0
12500 0.1 32.2 220 30 15 8.9 4.9 18.8 65.9 -3.6 546 2.8
12000 1.5 34.7 225 28 14 9.2 5.1 18.7 65.7 -3.7 491 2.5
11500 2.9 37.2 230 26 14 9.1 5.0 18.7 65.6 -3.8 435 2.2
11000 4.1 39.4 235 24 13 8.2 4.5 18.4 65.2 -4.1 383 1.9
10500 5.4 41.7 240 22 11 8.6 4.7 18.3 64.9 -4.2 329 1.7
10250 6.0 42.8 245 21 11 9.4 5.1 18.2 64.8 -4.3 302 1.5
10000 6.8 44.2 245 20 10 9.6 5.3 18.2 64.8 -4.3 273 1.4
9750 7.5 45.5 250 19 10 9.1 5.0 18.2 64.7 -4.4 245 1.2
9500 8.1 46.6 255 18 9 9.1 5.0 18.1 64.6 -4.4 217 1.1
9250 8.8 47.8 255 18 9 9.5 5.2 18.1 64.5 -4.5 190 1.0
9000 9.5 49.1 260 17 9 8.9 4.9 18.1 64.5 -4.5 161 0.8
8750 10.1 50.2 265 16 8 8.1 4.4 17.9 64.3 -4.6 135 0.7
8500 10.8 51.4 270 15 8 8.2 4.5 17.8 64.1 -4.8 109 0.6
8250 11.4 52.5 270 14 7 8.5 4.7 17.7 63.9 -4.9 84 0.4
8000 12.0 53.6 275 13 6 8.6 4.7 17.6 63.7 -5.0 57 0.3
7750 12.6 54.7 280 11 6 7.6 4.2 17.5 63.5 -5.1 31 0.2
7500 13.2 55.8 280 10 5 7.5 4.1 17.3 63.2 -5.3 8 0.0
7250 13.6 56.5 285 9 4 3.1 1.7 17.1 62.7 -5.6 M M
7000 13.6 56.5 285 8 4 -1.3 -0.7 16.3 61.4 -6.4 M M
6750 13.6 56.5 280 6 3 0.7 0.4 15.6 60.0 -7.1 M M
6500 13.3 55.9 275 5 3 -14.5 -8.0 14.5 58.2 -8.2 M M
6250 M M M M M M M M M M M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
04/25/2024 at 0900 MDT | 04/25/2024 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +4.4 | CAPE... +3.6 LI... +2.5
CINH... 0.0 K Index... -6.2 | CINH... -0.8 K Index... +12.2
|
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 -53.8 -64.8 245 48 25 6.3 3.5 | -52.8 -63.0 240 48 25 6.5 3.6
45000 -46.6 -51.9 245 60 31 -5.7 -3.1 | -45.2 -49.4 240 64 33 -5.2 -2.9
40000 -55.0 -67.0 230 84 43 -5.3 -2.9 | -52.9 -63.2 225 87 45 -5.0 -2.7
38000 -53.8 -64.8 230 86 44 4.3 2.3 | -52.6 -62.7 220 91 47 2.6 1.4
36000 -51.3 -60.3 230 85 44 4.3 2.3 | -51.1 -60.0 220 94 48 2.6 1.4
34000 -48.2 -54.8 230 84 43 6.7 3.7 | -48.7 -55.7 220 94 48 6.9 3.8
32000 -44.2 -47.6 225 82 42 6.7 3.7 | -44.5 -48.1 220 89 46 6.9 3.8
30000 -39.5 -39.1 225 79 41 7.7 4.2 | -39.6 -39.3 215 84 43 8.2 4.5
29000 -37.2 -35.0 225 77 40 7.7 4.2 | -37.1 -34.8 215 83 43 8.1 4.5
28000 -34.9 -30.8 225 75 39 7.7 4.2 | -34.7 -30.5 215 82 42 8.1 4.5
27000 -32.5 -26.5 225 73 38 8.2 4.5 | -32.3 -26.1 215 81 42 7.8 4.3
26000 -30.1 -22.2 220 71 37 8.2 4.5 | -30.0 -22.0 215 80 41 7.8 4.3
25000 -27.6 -17.7 220 69 36 8.2 4.5 | -27.6 -17.7 215 79 41 7.8 4.3
24000 -25.2 -13.4 220 67 35 7.7 4.2 | -25.3 -13.5 215 78 40 7.4 4.0
23000 -22.9 -9.2 220 65 33 7.7 4.2 | -23.1 -9.6 215 76 39 7.3 4.0
22000 -20.6 -5.1 215 62 32 7.7 4.2 | -21.0 -5.8 215 74 38 7.3 4.0
21000 -18.3 -0.9 215 59 30 7.0 3.8 | -18.9 -2.0 215 70 36 4.7 2.6
20000 -16.2 2.8 210 57 29 7.0 3.8 | -17.5 0.5 215 63 32 4.9 2.7
19500 -15.2 4.6 210 56 29 7.0 3.8 | -16.8 1.8 220 59 31 4.9 2.7
19000 -14.1 6.6 210 55 28 7.0 3.8 | -16.1 3.0 220 56 29 5.0 2.8
18500 -13.1 8.4 205 54 28 7.4 4.1 | -15.4 4.3 220 52 27 3.2 1.8
18000 -11.9 10.6 205 53 27 7.4 4.1 | -15.1 4.8 220 45 23 2.8 1.5
17500 -10.3 13.5 210 52 27 6.6 3.6 | -14.7 5.5 225 38 20 3.5 1.9
17000 -9.4 15.1 210 49 25 6.5 3.6 | -13.3 8.1 225 33 17 7.6 4.2
16500 -8.4 16.9 215 48 24 6.0 3.3 | -12.1 10.2 225 30 15 8.2 4.5
16000 -7.6 18.3 215 45 23 5.3 2.9 | -10.8 12.6 225 29 15 9.2 5.1
15500 -6.8 19.8 220 42 21 5.3 2.9 | -9.4 15.1 225 28 14 9.2 5.0
15000 -6.1 21.0 220 38 20 4.9 2.7 | -8.0 17.6 225 27 14 9.7 5.3
14500 -5.3 22.5 225 35 18 4.9 2.7 | -6.6 20.1 225 27 14 9.6 5.3
14000 -4.6 23.7 225 31 16 5.9 3.3 | -5.1 22.8 225 27 14 9.5 5.2
13500 -3.7 25.3 225 27 14 5.9 3.3 | -3.7 25.3 230 27 14 9.5 5.2
13000 -2.8 27.0 230 23 12 8.2 4.5 | -2.3 27.9 230 27 14 9.4 5.2
12500 -1.6 29.1 230 20 11 8.7 4.8 | -0.9 30.4 230 27 14 9.4 5.2
12000 -0.3 31.5 235 18 9 9.2 5.1 | 0.5 32.9 230 27 14 9.4 5.1
11500 1.1 34.0 235 17 9 9.4 5.1 | 1.9 35.4 230 27 14 9.4 5.2
11000 2.5 36.5 240 16 8 9.2 5.1 | 3.4 38.1 230 27 14 9.8 5.4
10500 3.9 39.0 240 16 8 9.5 5.2 | 4.8 40.6 230 27 14 9.5 5.2
10250 4.6 40.3 240 15 8 9.4 5.1 | 5.5 41.9 230 27 14 10.0 5.5
10000 5.3 41.5 245 15 8 9.3 5.1 | 6.3 43.3 230 27 14 10.0 5.5
9750 6.0 42.8 245 15 8 9.5 5.2 | 7.0 44.6 230 27 14 9.7 5.3
9500 6.7 44.1 245 14 7 9.2 5.0 | 7.7 45.9 230 27 14 9.4 5.1
9250 7.4 45.3 245 14 7 10.4 5.7 | 8.4 47.1 235 27 14 11.1 6.1
9000 8.2 46.8 245 14 7 10.2 5.6 | 9.3 48.7 235 27 14 10.9 6.0
8750 8.9 48.0 250 13 7 8.7 4.8 | 10.0 50.0 235 27 14 9.0 4.9
8500 9.5 49.1 250 13 7 8.9 4.9 | 10.7 51.3 235 27 14 9.4 5.2
8250 10.2 50.4 250 12 6 9.0 5.0 | 11.4 52.5 235 26 14 9.8 5.3
8000 10.9 51.6 250 12 6 9.4 5.1 | 12.2 54.0 235 26 14 10.5 5.8
7750 11.6 52.9 250 11 6 9.5 5.2 | 13.0 55.4 235 26 13 10.4 5.7
7500 12.3 54.1 250 11 6 9.4 5.2 | 13.7 56.7 235 26 13 10.0 5.5
7250 13.0 55.4 250 10 5 10.1 5.5 | 14.5 58.1 235 26 13 10.9 6.0
7000 13.8 56.8 250 10 5 10.9 6.0 | 15.4 59.7 235 25 13 12.2 6.7
6750 14.6 58.3 250 9 5 9.7 5.3 | 16.3 61.3 235 24 12 11.3 6.2
6500 15.3 59.5 250 9 5 12.0 6.6 | 17.2 63.0 235 23 12 18.2 10.0
6250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
04/25/2024 at 1500 MDT | 04/25/2024 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +42.0 LI... +0.1 | CAPE... +77.5 LI... -0.3
CINH... 0.0 K Index... +13.0 | CINH... -4.3 K Index... +18.8
|
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 -54.7 -66.5 240 54 28 3.5 1.9 | -53.3 -63.9 240 43 22 4.7 2.6
45000 -49.8 -57.6 235 64 33 1.4 0.7 | -46.8 -52.2 235 54 28 0.6 0.4
40000 -47.9 -54.2 230 73 38 1.3 0.7 | -46.0 -50.8 235 65 34 0.6 0.3
38000 -47.7 -53.9 225 77 40 -0.2 -0.1 | -45.8 -50.4 235 71 36 0.1 0.0
36000 -47.8 -54.0 225 82 42 -0.2 -0.1 | -45.7 -50.3 235 77 40 0.1 0.0
34000 -46.9 -52.4 225 85 44 5.2 2.8 | -45.3 -49.5 235 82 42 3.2 1.8
32000 -43.7 -46.7 225 87 45 5.2 2.9 | -43.4 -46.1 235 82 42 3.2 1.8
30000 -40.2 -40.4 230 89 46 7.2 4.0 | -41.1 -42.0 235 82 42 6.2 3.4
29000 -38.0 -36.4 230 91 47 7.3 4.0 | -39.3 -38.7 235 82 42 6.0 3.3
28000 -35.9 -32.6 230 93 48 7.3 4.0 | -37.5 -35.5 235 82 42 6.0 3.3
27000 -33.7 -28.7 230 95 49 7.1 3.9 | -35.7 -32.3 235 82 42 5.9 3.2
26000 -31.6 -24.9 230 91 47 7.0 3.9 | -34.2 -29.6 235 75 38 4.8 2.6
25000 -29.4 -20.9 225 87 45 7.0 3.9 | -32.8 -27.0 230 66 34 4.8 2.6
24000 -27.3 -17.1 225 83 43 6.2 3.4 | -31.3 -24.3 230 57 29 4.6 2.5
23000 -26.4 -15.5 225 71 36 2.8 1.5 | -29.6 -21.3 225 50 26 6.4 3.5
22000 -25.6 -14.1 225 57 29 2.9 1.6 | -27.7 -17.9 225 45 23 6.4 3.5
21000 -24.7 -12.5 225 44 23 6.7 3.7 | -25.8 -14.4 220 40 21 7.3 4.0
20000 -22.0 -7.6 225 42 22 9.0 5.0 | -22.5 -8.5 220 39 20 8.9 4.9
19500 -20.0 -4.0 225 40 21 9.1 5.0 | -21.2 -6.2 220 39 20 8.9 4.9
19000 -18.7 -1.7 225 39 20 9.1 5.0 | -19.9 -3.8 220 38 20 8.9 4.9
18500 -17.3 0.9 225 38 20 8.5 4.7 | -18.6 -1.5 225 38 20 8.2 4.5
18000 -16.1 3.0 225 38 19 8.6 4.7 | -17.5 0.5 225 37 19 8.1 4.4
17500 -14.8 5.4 225 37 19 8.8 4.8 | -16.3 2.7 225 37 19 8.1 4.5
17000 -13.4 7.9 225 37 19 9.1 5.0 | -15.0 5.0 225 36 18 8.3 4.6
16500 -12.1 10.2 225 37 19 9.1 5.0 | -13.8 7.2 230 35 18 8.2 4.5
16000 -10.6 12.9 230 37 19 9.7 5.3 | -12.5 9.5 230 33 17 9.1 5.0
15500 -9.2 15.4 230 37 19 9.7 5.3 | -11.1 12.0 230 32 17 9.1 5.0
15000 -7.8 18.0 230 37 19 9.4 5.1 | -9.7 14.5 235 31 16 9.5 5.2
14500 -6.3 20.7 230 37 19 9.3 5.1 | -8.3 17.1 240 30 16 9.7 5.3
14000 -4.9 23.2 230 37 19 9.5 5.2 | -6.8 19.8 240 29 15 9.5 5.2
13500 -3.5 25.7 230 38 19 9.6 5.2 | -5.5 22.1 245 29 15 9.3 5.1
13000 -2.1 28.2 230 38 20 9.6 5.3 | -4.1 24.6 250 28 15 9.3 5.1
12500 -0.6 30.9 230 38 20 9.5 5.2 | -2.7 27.1 250 28 14 9.2 5.1
12000 0.8 33.4 230 39 20 9.0 4.9 | -1.3 29.7 255 28 14 9.0 5.0
11500 2.0 35.6 230 39 20 8.3 4.5 | -0.1 31.8 260 28 15 8.2 4.5
11000 3.6 38.5 230 40 20 11.1 6.1 | 1.4 34.5 260 29 15 10.9 6.0
10500 5.0 41.0 235 40 21 9.1 5.0 | 2.9 37.2 265 29 15 9.5 5.2
10250 5.7 42.3 235 40 21 9.8 5.4 | 3.6 38.5 265 29 15 9.3 5.1
10000 6.5 43.7 235 40 21 10.4 5.7 | 4.3 39.7 270 29 15 9.2 5.1
9750 7.3 45.1 235 40 21 9.9 5.5 | 5.0 41.0 270 30 15 9.9 5.4
9500 8.0 46.4 235 41 21 9.9 5.4 | 5.8 42.4 270 30 15 10.0 5.5
9250 8.7 47.7 235 41 21 9.9 5.4 | 6.5 43.7 270 30 16 10.3 5.7
9000 9.5 49.1 235 41 21 9.3 5.1 | 7.3 45.1 275 31 16 8.9 4.9
8750 10.2 50.4 235 41 21 9.5 5.2 | 7.9 46.2 275 31 16 8.5 4.6
8500 10.9 51.6 235 41 21 10.0 5.5 | 8.6 47.5 275 31 16 9.8 5.4
8250 11.6 52.9 235 41 21 9.9 5.4 | 9.3 48.7 275 31 16 9.1 5.0
8000 12.4 54.3 235 41 21 10.3 5.6 | 10.0 50.0 275 31 16 10.5 5.8
7750 13.2 55.8 235 40 21 10.4 5.7 | 10.8 51.4 280 31 16 10.5 5.8
7500 13.9 57.0 235 40 21 10.1 5.5 | 11.5 52.7 280 31 16 9.2 5.1
7250 14.7 58.5 235 40 20 10.5 5.8 | 12.2 54.0 280 31 16 9.8 5.4
7000 15.5 59.9 240 39 20 11.3 6.2 | 13.0 55.4 280 30 16 10.6 5.8
6750 16.5 61.7 240 37 19 17.0 9.4 | 13.8 56.8 280 28 15 12.8 7.0
6500 18.1 64.6 240 33 17 26.1 14.3 | 14.9 58.8 285 25 13 15.1 8.3
6250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
________________________________________________________________________________
This product is issued once per day, at approximately 730 AM local
time. It is not continuously monitored nor updated after its initial
issuance.
The information contained herein is based on numerical weather prediction
model data for the Moriarty Municipal Airport site in Moriarty, New Mexico at
North Latitude: 34.9781667 deg
West Longitude: 106.0000278 deg
Elevation: 6204.2 feet (1891.0 meters)
and may not be representative of other areas along and east of the Sandia
and Manzano 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 are welcome and should be directed
to one of the addresses or phone numbers shown at the bottom of this page.
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.
042613
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