PHYSICAL MECHANISMS OF CLEAR-AIR TURBULENCE,
Abstract
An attempt was made to test the hypothesis that reports of clear-air turbulence (CAT) on March 14-15, 1962, were associated with narrow layers (upper fronts) in which the Richardson numbers are small. The test was carried out with the aid of original soundings of temperature and wind. The data did not contradict the hypothe sis, as many reports of CAT were made in sloping baroclinic or adiabatic layers. In any case, the Richardson numbers were generally low. Complete confirmation and establishment of a firm 'criti cal' Richardson number requires better vertical resolution of wind. An index of CAT intensity which should be proportional to the energy of CAT is derived from the eddy energy equation. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 31, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0426812
Entities
People
- H.a. Panofsky
- J.c. Mclean
Organizations
- Pennsylvania State University