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WEATHER TOOLS
MENU
BLIPMAP Forecasts
(Boundary Layer Information Prediction MAP)
are the
creation of Dr. John W. (Jack) Glendening,
Meteorologist.
As a quick reference for the CCSC soaring area,
the two most useful tools, Thermal Updraft Velocity
and Height of Critical Updraft Strength (Hcrit)
are presented for 18:00 and 21:00 Zulu. If you
are interested in exploring more of the inforrmation,
use the menu links. Please be sure to refresh
your browser and check the date on the maps to
make sure you are seeing the latest versions.
Soundings from FSL's MAPS, RUC Analyses and Forecasts, Profiler data, RAOBS
, or ACARS for the Dayton area. The Interactive Java allows the user to place
the cursor to indicate temprature and altitude, then click to show the area
of lift.
National
Weather Service forecast for the CCSC area Click
Here
Thermal Updraft Velocity
(W*)
Average dry thermal updraft strength near mid-BL height. Subtract
glider descent rate to get average vario reading for cloudless thermals. Thermal
strengths will be stronger if convective clouds are present. W*
depends upon both the BL depth and the surface heating
Height of Critical Updraft Strength
(Hcrit)
This parameter estimates the height at which the average dry updraft
strength drops below 225 fpm and over flat terrain is expected to give
better quantitative numbers for the maximum cloudless thermalling height
than is the traditional TI=0 height given above, although the qualitative
patterns should be similar for both parameters. (Note: the present
assumptions tend to under predict the max. thermalling height.) In the
presence of clouds the maximum thermalling height may instead be limited
by the cloud base (see the "Cloud prediction parameters" section
below). [This parameter is truncated at 22,000 for plotting.]
