1.Terrain-Forced Flows A.Flow around & over terrain B.Rio Grande Valley east canyon winds C.Mechanical turbulence D.Mountain waves & lee waves 2.Internet resources for balloonists OverviewOverview

Mountain Meteorology, C. David Whiteman Terrain-Forced Flows

Mountain Meteorology, C. David Whiteman Vortex Pairs

On hillsides where flow parallels the peak’s contour Over crests o Greatest speedups – over gently inclined triangular shaped hills (KCQC?) o Intermediate speedups – over rounded mountain tops o Smallest speedups – over flat-topped mesas Channeling through passes and gaps in the ridgeline Adapted from Mountain Meteorology, C. David Whiteman View From Above View From the Side *Assuming relatively stable flow Where Local Speedups Occur

High impact on the ABQ Sunport and Santa Fe Airport Stronger events also reach Double Eagle, Taos, and Grants Airports Over-the-top events can cause hurricane-force winds in Albuquerque –124 mph tram base –108 mph Glenwood Hills –90 mph (sustained) Albuquerque Airport Tijeras Canyon Tijeras Canyon KABQ 1200 FT drop Sandia Mtns Sandia Mtns North Valley Rio Grande Valley East Canyon Winds Rio Grande Valley East Canyon Winds

North Valley Airport Double Eagle II Vortex Pairs Cause East Winds to Vary across ABQ Turbulence from Fluid Flowing through a Grid An Album of Fluid Motion By Milton Van Dyke, Fig. 152

Photo 7/26/05 by Greg PoulterPhoto 7/28/05 by Greg Poulter Cool & moist air flowing over the Capitan Mountains Cool & moist air flowing over the Capitan Mountains Cold front banked up against the Sandia Mountains Cold front banked up against the Sandia Mountains Visible Sign of Cold Front Impinging on Terrain Visible Sign of Cold Front Impinging on Terrain

Meteorology for Aviators, R.C. Sutcliffe The stronger the winds the more turbulent the flow Avoid by climbing to a higher altitude May cause strato- cumulus clouds near top of disturbed layer In stable air, eddies tend to be smaller, more stationary and to dissipate more slowly Mechanical Turbulence

Wind Speed < 20 mphWind Speed > 20 mph Over Over ABuilding ABuilding Up-slope Flow FlowUp-slope Down-slope Down-slope Meteorology for Aviators, R.C. Sutcliffe Wakes have slower wind speeds but increased gustiness Winds slow down- wind roughly 15 times the obstacle height, but speed reductions in wakes have been noted up to 60 obstacle heights downwind* *From Mountain Meteorology, C. David Whiteman Airflow Over Obstacles

Mountain Meteorology, C. David Whiteman Form over steep slopes or cliffs on either the windward or leeward side Elongated, horizontal-axis eddies that can extend along entire length of barrier The eddies reduce near ground wind speeds on the slopes, even though flow above the eddies speeds up as it crosses the barrier Indicated by sand-dune-like deposits, snow cornices and/or banner clouds Separation Eddies Sand dune near Vantage, WA Sand dune near Vantage, WA Separation Eddies

Blowing snow or dust off ridge crests Certain cloud types –Lenticular clouds –Cap cloud –Banner clouds –Rotor (Roll) clouds –Chinook arch –Billow clouds –Fohn Wall Lenticular Clouds Cap Cloud Mountain Meteorology, C. David Whiteman Cap Clouds? Banner Cloud Chinook Arch Billow Clouds Mountain Meteorology, C. David Whiteman Visible Signs of Terrain-Forced Flow Visible Signs of Terrain-Forced Flow

Photo 7/26/05 by Greg PoulterPhoto 7/28/05 by Greg Poulter Cool & moist air flowing over the Capitan Mountains Cool & moist air flowing over the Capitan Mountains Cold front banked up against the Sandia Mountains Cold front banked up against the Sandia Mountains Fohn Wall?

Air Force Manual 51-12, Weather for Aircrews (1974) Mountain Wave Turbulence

Roll clouds indicate turbulence more than 100 miles downstream NWS Visible Satellite Depiction

NWS Trapped Lee Waves

NWS Visible Sign of Mountain Wave Visible Sign of Mountain Wave

METAR KABQ Z 00000KT 10SM FEW001 SCT050 SCT100 BKN200 M05/M09 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP177 FU FEW001 MTN TOPS OBSC NE-E SCSL NE-E ACSL NE AND SE T TAF KABQ Z 0512/0612 VRB04KT P6SM SCT200 FM KT P6SM SCT100 BKN150 TEMPO 0521/ G25KT FM KT P6SM BKN110 FM KT P6SM BKN100 ABQ International Sunport Looking East 5 February 2011 ~ 0945L ABQ International Sunport Looking East 5 February 2011 ~ 0945L Visible Sign of Lee Wave

METAR text: KABQ Z 00000KT 10SM FEW001 SCT050 SCT100 BKN200 M05/M09 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP177 FU FEW001 MTN TOPS OBSC NE-E SCSL NE-E ACSL NE AND SE T Conditions at: KABQ (ALBUQUERQUE, NM, US) observed 1456 UTC 05 February 2011 Temperature: -5.0°C (23°F) Dewpoint: -9.4°C (15°F) [RH = 71%] Pressure (altimeter): inches Hg ( mb) [Sea-level pressure: mb] Winds: calm Visibility: 10 or more miles (16+ km) Ceiling: feet AGL Clouds: few clouds at 100 feet AGL scattered clouds at 5000 feet AGL scattered clouds at feet AGL broken clouds at feet AGL Weather: no significant weather observed at this time ? KAEG Z AUTO 35004KT 10SM CLR M08/M10 A2998 RMK AO1 From Double Eagle AWOS won’t usually mention ACSL either: Decoders May Miss ACSL

Hourly Weather Graph o Hourly graph of wind, mixing height, transport wind, temperature, & more at a point location o click on map, select ‘HOURLY WEATHER GRAPH’ NWS Aviation Forecast Discussions o Forecaster reasoning behind TAFs & discussion of aviation weather hazards for next 24 hours o NWS ABQ Soaring Forecast for Albuquerque Area o Thermal index, top of the lift, temperature of first usable lift, maximum lift, & more o METAR Plot from the Aviation Weather Center o Zoomable plot of surface weather observations that updates automatically o Flight Path Tool from the Aviation Weather Center o Application that draws a cross-section through the atmosphere along your flight path with a plethora of wind and other weather information at various levels o Atmospheric Soundings (Skew-T Log-P Diagrams) o Weather-balloon-sampled vertical profile of temperature and winds o (click ABQ star because soundings default to OUN) Internet Resources for Balloonists Internet Resources for Balloonists

NWS Aviation Weather Center o METARs, TAFs, flight-level winds, weather charts, and weather hazards forecasts o NWS Albuquerque Home Page o Local forecasts out 7 days, Forecast Discussion, Warnings/Watches/Advisories o Smart Phone Weather o Free forecasts, warnings, radar, satellite, TAFs, METARS, & more formatted for cell phones o RIDGE-Radar loops and overlays o Local or regional radar overlayed with warnings, topography, cities, counties, highways, rivers o National Digital Forecast Database o Graphical weather forecasts out 7 days o Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Climatology o Temperature and precipitation facts, typical weather pattern, wind roses, ABQ box explanation o Internet Resources for Balloonists (Cont.) Internet Resources for Balloonists (Cont.)

1.Terrain-Forced Flows A.Flow around & over terrain B.Rio Grande Valley east canyon winds C.Mechanical turbulence D.Mountain waves & lee waves 2.Internet resources for balloonists SummarySummary

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Wind Shear with a Low Level Temperature Inversion Aviation Weather for Pilots & Flight Operations Personnel, 1975, by NWS & FAA, US Government Printing Office, AC00-6A There may be multiple low level temperature inversions, especially if launching next to the Rio Grande There may be multiple low level temperature inversions, especially if launching next to the Rio Grande ABQ soundings are launched on a mesa 300 FT Above the Rio Grande ABQ soundings are launched on a mesa 300 FT Above the Rio Grande

Atmospheric Mixing in the Morning 0°c10°c20°c-10°c-20°c-30°c 0 ft 5,000 ft 10,000 ft 15,000 ft 20,000 ft AGL

Atmospheric Mixing by Early Afternoon 0°c10°c20°c-10°c-20°c-30°c 0 ft 5,000 ft 10,000 ft 15,000 ft 20,000 ft

Atmospheric Mixing by Late Afternoon 0°c10°c20°c-10°c-20°c-30°c 0 ft 5,000 ft 10,000 ft 15,000 ft 20,000 ft