THE DETAILED STRUCTURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE IN RE GIONS OF CLEAR-AIR TURBULENCE.
Abstract
The structure of the atmosphere in regions of clear-air turbulence is investigated by means of aircraft observations of wind and temperature in combination with objective and subjective turbulence records. The detailed fields of hori zontal and vertical wind shear, stability, ther mal advection, and Richardson number are de scribed for three different patterns of flow, viz., a sharp trough, an anticyclonic jet stream, and an intense straight jet. Severe turbulence (equivalent in intensity to that measured by the same aircraft in a mature thunderstorm) was found in the former two cases, and moderate turbulence in the latter case. In the trough, the main turbulent region lay along the upper boundary of a thermally stable layer (jet front), which lay in cyclonic wind shear on the low pres sure side of the jet core. The turbulent re gion was associated with strong thermal advec tion (winds backing with height) as well as with pronounced horizontal and vertical wind shear. A brief discussion is included concerning methods of processing standard rawinsonde data into forms applicable to turbulence analysis. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0411295
Entities
People
- Roy M. Endlich
Organizations
- SRI International