How high is that cloud?

"Andrew Sarangan" wrote in message
1...
Probably the greatest use of your device is for figuring out the lapse
rate rather than cloud height. Get the cloud height and surface
temperature from METAR, use your device to get the cloud temperature and
calculate the lapse rate. A lapse rate higher than 2C/1000' will
indicate an unstable atmosphere and bumpy flight conditions. Unlike the
temperatures from the winds aloft forecast, yours will be actual
temperature, not forecasted, and will be more accurate. Also, winds
aloft data forecast is not accurate for calculating stability near the
surface, as the temperature is omitted for the first 3000'.
Extrapolating between surface and 6000' may not accurately reflect the
instability close to the ground.

2C per thousand has nothing to do with stability. In unsaturated air,
2C/1000 is stable. In saturated air 2C/1000 is unstable. 2C/1000 is the
standard for calibrating altimeters, it has nothing to do with the real
atmosphere or stability.

Mike
MU-2