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Re: Question about soundings and cloud bases

Posted By: Bill Moninger
Date: 13-January-14 2225Z

In Response To: Question about soundings and cloud bases (Bill Moninger)

Hi Dan, On the new interactive non-java sounding display, there is a button ('get text') that will bring up a window with the sounding as ascii text, such as: -------------------------------------------- DEN(A) 21Z 13Jan14 Op40 Analysis, valid 13-Jan-2014 21:00:00 (6.3nm/173 from DEN) CAPE = 0 J/Kg, CIn = 1 J/Kg TT = 29 KI = -5 LI = 6 SW = 94 LCL = 648 P_alt mb t/td w_dir/w_spd Time (ft) (°C) (kts) (UTC) 5643 825 8.2/-12.3 292°/015 2100 5735 823 7.2/-12.4 290°/019 2100 5892 817 6.5/-12.3 289°/020 2100 ------------------------- However, this doesn't indicate cloud bases and cloud layers. (You could infer these layers from the locations where the temperature (red line) and dewpoint (blue line) are equal.) You can also 'send up a parcel' from a given temperature and pressure (for instance, the surface level, and your expected high surface temperature for the day). The parcel trajectory is indicated by a magenta line. There'll be a 'kink' on the line and also a solid black line at the altitude that would be the 'lifted condensation level' if the surface temperature reaches the value you predicted. The pressure at that level in millibars is indicated in the upper right as "iLCL' (interactive lifted condensation level). You 'send up a parcel' by clicking with the mouse at the appropriate location, or by lifting your finger on a touch screen display. Regarding tutorials, I'm not sure which one you read, but there's a very good tutorial for pilots linked from the bottom of the http://rucsoundings.noaa.gov/ page from the NWS publication "The Front'. The direct link to that tutorial is http://aviationweather.gov/general/pubs/front/docs/feb-04.pdf. Others, who have more flight or meteorological knowledge than I may wish to weigh in as well. Best wishes, -Bill

Messages In This Thread

Question about soundings and cloud bases -- Bill Moninger -- 13-January-14 2209Z

Re: Question about soundings and cloud bases -- Bill Moninger -- 13-January-14 2225Z

Re: Question about soundings and cloud bases -- Dan Johnson -- 14-January-14 1441Z

Re: Question about soundings and cloud bases -- Brian Jamison -- 14-January-14 1550Z

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