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Soaring: Difference between revisions
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=== Advanced Weather === | === Advanced Weather === | ||
The [[A local weather system |Local Weather]] package (for Flightgear 2.0.x and 2.4.x) or Advanced Weather (2.6.x) has the option to automatically generate thermals along with the convective clouds. | The [[A local weather system |Local Weather]] package (for Flightgear 2.0.x and 2.4.x) or Advanced Weather (2.6.x) has the option to automatically generate thermals along with the convective clouds. For this, the checkbox 'generate thermals' has to be selected. The slider 'thermal properties' modifies the behaviour of the thermals - for 'low convection' it will generate little turbulence, thermals with a large radius and only modest lift, for 'rough day' it will generate strong lift and turbulence in narrow thermals. | ||
The convective cloud system generates rather realistic results: | |||
* the number of thermals is maximal around noon and the strength of thermals is maximal in the early afternoon | |||
* the probability to find a thermal depends on terrain - elevated points and surfaces which heat up well are more likely to generate thermals than ice or open water | |||
* not every cloud has a thermal associated, not every thermal is usable | |||
* sometimes blue thermals (i.e. without a cap cloud) are created) | |||
As a result, you will almost never find good soaring conditions early in the morning or strong thermals over the sea. Any 'high pressure' weather situation will generate at least some amount of convective clouds, low pressure situations usually do not. | |||
In order to set up ridge lift, select wind model 'constant' and set the wind perpendicular to the slope with 10-20 kt. Advanced Weather computes the boundary layer dynamically dependent on terrain, as a result there will be a realistic reduction of windspeed for a landing in the valley but not at mountain slopes. | |||
== Learn the theory == | == Learn the theory == | ||