layers
Having taught all the way down from big boys pax jets through alpine soaring and flying off Irish beaches and now playing with paragliders the atmosphere isn't quite as most people understand it and no matter how much experience you can get caught out.
I did one flight in the West of Ireland rounding the tip of slieve Brandon (3000+) below the 1000ft cloud base..face worked a treat as wind force 5 until an embedded shower came through. fall back was a ditching in the lee...sadly no photos as needed both hands on the stick.
For coastal or even in land slope soaring one has to consider the layers..inversions..a small height change can find you in completely different air mass with different wind direction and speed. it's not predictable without a sounding which is why hot air balloons let off toy balloons before flight.
I did try and find a drone set up to do the same..some times I launch and become very religious but then again if it all goes tits up then I land on my a@se.