Weather for Soaring

Weather patterns on Earth are complicated and seemingly chaotic. Weather is a result of the atmosphere's constant attempt to reach equilibrium. This equilibrium is continually upset by uneven solar heating of the Earth's surface caused by cloud cover, the uneven distribution of land and water, and the Earth's tilt and rotation, among other factors.

As glider pilots, we are dependent on the weather. As long as it isn't raining or too windy, or the clouds aren't too low, we can glide. But to soar, that is, to be able to stay aloft and climb, we must be able to find rising air, which we call “lift".

The three main types of lift are thermal, ridge, and mountain wave. Thermals are warm air masses that rise because they are less dense than the surrounding air. Ridge lift results when wind is forced up by a ridge. Mountain wave lift is created when winds aloft interact with low-level winds that have been displaced by a mountain.

The weather can also create hazards for the glider pilot. Certain weather events can damage or destroy a glider, in the air or on the ground. Often, the very conditions that create good lift also can create hazards. In this course, you will learn about the forces that create the weather so that you will be able to predict good soaring days, and to avoid dangerous conditions.

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