How to use NOAA to determine a good thermal day

 

http://www.arl.noaa.gov/ready/cmet.html?

 

 

 

 

How to determine the coordinates of your flying area.

 

For example, one can use Google Earth, save as kml , open with Notepad to get coordinates

 

<longitude>28.46723923176641</longitude>

                  <latitude>-26.35446819653362</latitude>

           

 

 

 

 

 

Choose Sounding and a time interval

 

 

choose start time

Java

choose time range

 

 

 

 

Windspeed in knots and direction at the right

 

Red curve is temperature

Green is dew point

 

Blue numbers on the left are pressure altitude

 

 

Good day examples

 

 

 

 

 

Example of a De Aar world record day

 

 

The green and red curve meet very high up, about 4000m AGL. Thermals will go about 3000m high.

Higher up the air dries out, no OD.

 

 

 

 

Bad day examples

 

 

green and red curve are close together = rain

 

 

 

Google Earth and NOAA

 

Create a PlaceMark and add in the Description

 

http://www.arl.noaa.gov/ready-bin/main.pl?Lat=-25.66&Lon=30.75