1. TOPTHERM 02 - 2009 TopTask TopTask Competition Modern meteorological forecasting tools for gliding activities

2. TOPTHERM The meteorological area forecast for gliding activities 02 - 2009

3. Functions of TOPTHERM Calculation of convective development on the basis of the topography Allocation of a representative forecasted vertical sounding per Toptherm area Integration of surface temperature and dewpoint by using the values of the meteorological observation stations Integration of the forecasted daily changes of the MET conditions by using the outputs ot DWD’s 4- dimentional models (COSMO-EU) 02 - 2009

4. Results of TOPTHERM Starting and ending of thermals Mean climb rate of a glider in mps Cloudiness (typ, coverage, extension) Special elements (showers, turbulence, cloud streets, wind) Hourly potential flight distance for a standard class glider 02 - 2009

5. Proposal of the functionality of TOPTHERM 02 - 2009

6. Task at 17 May 2002 02 - 2009

7. Barogram of the flight at 17 May 2002 02 - 2009

8. Analysis of the flight at 17 May 2002 02 - 2009

9. Analysis of the flight: Climb rate -> Speed 02 - 2009 0123 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Climb rate V z Z [m/s] V XC [km/h] ASH-25 Flight performance good normal bad

10. 02 - 2009 Till now there were only an analysis of the thermal conditions of a flight! But what we need is a forecast of these thermal conditions. We want to know, who and when which conditions can be expected and what will influence this thermals during the day! This forecast delivers TOPTHERM !

11. Model TOPTHERM –> V Z ! 02 - 2009

12. Model Toptherm: Calculation of the development of the vertical structure of temperature and humidity during the day

13. TOPO: Area coupling by valley winds Reduktion 3D –> 2D ! 02 - 2009

14. V Z Model Toptherm: daily development of V Z 02 - 2009

15. TOPTHERM – mean climb rate for any area

16. TOPTHERM: Input parameter for the calculation of the potential flight distance Mean climb rate >0,4 mps in the Alps >0,8 mps minimum altitude of flights above the median height: Blue thermals: 900 m Cloud thermals: 700 m 02 - 2009

17. TOPTHERM - clouds, precipitation and turbulence

18. V Z –> V XC –> PFD 02 - 2009

19. TopTask The m eteorological flight route planning tool for soaring activities 02 - 2009

20. Vision of glider pilots: Direct weather for long distance flights Look at a thermal map (PFD-Values!)... Selection of a flight task... Calculation of a flight plan... Adaptation of the task – and up in the air! 02 - 2009

21. All these features are included in the TOPTHERM plannig tool TopTask 02 - 2009

22. TopTask – the route planning tool for glider pilots Input parameter:  start and end of thermals  mean climb rate  tops of thermals or basis of cumulus clouds  wind in middle of the convective layer  type of glider  wing load 02 - 2009

23. departure turnpoint 1 turnpoint 2 arrival PFD-chart with task

24. Which date are necessary for the calculation of the flight route? The climb rate for every area for the calculation of the potential flight distance (PFD) the upper wind in the main flight levels the topography 02 - 2009

25. The Meteorology delivers: Regional climb rate V z plus PFD... Regional climb rate V z plus PFD... Synoptic wind... Synoptic wind... With these both basic data and the under layed topography the flight route plan for a distance flight can be calculated 02 - 2009

26. Long distance Tasks... 02 - 2009 as a polygon

27. Phases of flights: thermal flight with Cruising speed V XC (V Z ) climbing with V Z for more operation height gliding to thermals (poss. outlanding) final flight to destination 02 - 2009

28. TopTask - Competition Further development of TopTask processing of tasks from pc_met, SeeYou and Strepla time optimized final flight with the forecasted meteorological climb rate 02 - 2009

29. TopTask - Competition use for flight planning issues – finding of an optimal departure window – checking of several standard tasks for verification – comparison between flown route (IGC-file) with tasks planned with pc_met, SeeYou or Strepla 02 - 2009

30. TopTask - Competition Program to support: the task setter to find the right tasks the pilots to find the best routes and the optimal departure window debriefings 02 - 2009

31. TopTask Competition 02 - 2009 departure window with optimal departure time calculated barogram flown distance blue: mean flight progress red: calculated flight progress cumulus clouds

32. Comparison of TopTherm-results with real flights 02 - 2009

33. During the Switzerland championships (May 2004) the all tasks were for the first time exclusively set with TopTherm by the tasksetter. After the championship a verification take place between the planned and the real flown tasks. Additional a comparison was made between same extra ordinary long distance flights of Mathias Schunk and the TopTherm results. Both results should be presented in the following pransparencies.

34. Task at 29 May 2004 02 - 2009

35. TopTask flight plan at 29 May 2004 02 - 2009

36. Course of flight at 29 May 2004 02 - 2009

37. Evaluated Tasks May 2004 02 - 2009 RM SM 187 km 351 km 263 km 355 km509 km 461 km 328 km289 km 531 km

38. Speed forecast with TopTask 02 - 2009

39. 1000 km Weather [!!!] 02 - 2009 08 June 200409 June 2004

40. 08.06.04: 1000 km FAI 18m Class (Mathias Schunk) 02 - 2009 Increase of the meteorological glide ratio: 49 --> 67 134 km/h

41. 09.06.04: 1000 km FAI Standardklasse (Mathias Schunk) 02 - 2009 Increase of the meteorological glide ratio: 44 --> 56 127 km/h

42. Improvement of TOPTHERM in the years 2006 and 2007 Changing in the involvement of radiation parameters Correction in the involvement of the distribution of the vertical temperature and humidity. Adaptation of the areas, especially in the alps and the lower mountains (Hochschwarzwald/ Oberer Neckar/ Obere Donau) Changing of the boundary conditions – Optimisation in the involvement of model grid points and synoptic stations to the regional areas – Local reduction of the evaporation – Better correlation of minimum convection heights with the area conditions 02 - 2008

43. ……..Improvement of TOPTHERM 2007 and 2008 For the first time area related quantitative consideration of dynamical effects (cloud streets and hang winds) Extension of Toptherm into the whole European French area including the Pyrenees, into the western part of Poland (2007) and the whole Czech republic (2008) Further improvements of the forecast – Area optimisation (Austria and France) – Optimisation of heating and evaporation – Involvement of detour portion (8%) – Consideration of the “second day effect” 02 - 2008

44. …und 2009 Java-based internet version of TOPTHERM and TopTask Start: AERO 2009 02 - 2009

45. Conclusion At gliding competitions and individual flights, the speed forecasted with TopTask is a very good first approximation for the estimation of the daily maximum speed GPS-based records of glider flights allow a detailed verification of the TOPTHERM-forecasts With TopTask a high quality tool is available which can be used for the planning of tasks for task setters and glider pilots. 02 - 2009