We glider pilots live by the Skew T. We use them to accurately predict activity in the boundary layer (and above) – thermal trigger temperature, strength, cloudbase, streeting, overdevelopment, wave, and every other little bit of weather that might affect an afternoon’s flight. NOAA’s java-based interactive Skew Ts are especially useful. Here’s a link, which includes an instruction/education manual:

http://rucsoundings.noaa.gov/plot_soundings.cgi?

The best single treatment on Skew Ts I’ve ever come across is in the Bob Wander Gliding Pilot Mentor series – Thermals, by Rolf Hertenstein, Ph.D. Dr. Hertenstein’s treatment is very practical, succinct, and when used with the tool referenced above, thoroughly enlightening. For those of us who need thermals to fuel our progress, it’s a treasure. For those pilots who want to avoid midday turbulence, it’s very useful information.

OC