Description
Calculate supplied radiosonde mean vertical speed.
Atmospheric values depend on pressure order, vertical datums, moisture definitions and reference conditions. Specific humidity uses moist-air mass as its denominator, whereas mixing ratio uses dry-air mass. A pressure-order flag differs from a temperature inversion, and a logarithmic-pressure weight can represent extrapolation.
Calculate supplied radiosonde mean vertical speed.
When to use this tool
Use Radiosonde Ascent Speed when you already have firstHeightMeters, secondHeightMeters, elapsedSeconds and need to calculate supplied radiosonde mean vertical speed.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter firstHeightMeters, secondHeightMeters, elapsedSeconds. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read verticalSpeedMetersPerSecond. Use the output convention below.
Require elapsedSeconds>0; return (secondHeightMeters-firstHeightMeters)/elapsedSeconds.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| firstHeightMeters | First Height Meters | Required. Finite number. |
| secondHeightMeters | Second Height Meters | Required. Finite number. |
| elapsedSeconds | Elapsed Seconds | Required. Finite number; strictly above 0. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| verticalSpeedMetersPerSecond | Vertical Speed Meters Per Second | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"firstHeightMeters": 100,
"secondHeightMeters": 400,
"elapsedSeconds": 60
},
"output": {
"verticalSpeedMetersPerSecond": 5
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Descent gives negative speed. No heights, clock alignment, ascent profile, wind field or sonde behavior is estimated.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use calibrated profile and station data with the complete atmospheric model. Preserve datum, humidity and pressure conventions and assess uncertainty before interpreting local terms as an observed layer, state or forecast.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Boundary Layer Height Datum Offset
Subtract a supplied ground-height datum from a layer height.
- Wind Profile Log Height Reference
Calculate a supplied log height/roughness ratio.