Saturday, February 24, 2018

Visibility for NearSys Station, 24 February 2018

The UAVSonde indicated that the visibility was only on the order of 30 miles at 4:30 PM MST. These images show the storms NearSys Station was experiencing this afternoon. Graupel fell shortly after this flught. Therefore, I suspect the precip visible in these images is also graupel.

The thermal imager indicated a temperature difference of 10 degrees F between the ground and the sky. If we assume a dry adiabatic lapse rate of 5.4 degrees per thousand feet, the cloud base was at 1,800 feet. That means the UAV reached 22% of the way to the cloud base. A moist adiabatic lapse rate of 3 degrees per thousand feet, then the cloud base was at 3,300 feet and the UAV climbed 12% of the way to the cloud base.

Based on the images, it appears that 1,800 feet is a more accurate altitude of the cloud base.

Looking east. Nearby precip is visible in the southeast. 

Looking West.

Looking south.

Looking North.

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