The use of a "semi-composite chart" method in determining severe storm potential using he "Upper Air Diagnostic Program - UA"

This paper demonstrates how the UA program can be used in forecasting severe storms. Two techniques can be used to determine severe weather potential. First, the overlay of up to three different diagnostic fields will produce a "semi-composite chart." This method can depict the vertical stacking of key atmospheric processes. However, this method will often result in an extremely busy chart presentation. To partially solve this problem, a second technique consists of displaying one or two fields from one atmospheric level. Hard copies are made of these displays, which can then be compared side-by-side for a "mental" determination of vertical stacking. This "semi-- composite chart" method can be performed quickly by the field forecaster, with the result an efficient determination of severe weather potential.