CORRELATION BETWEEN CLEAR-AIR TURBULENCE AND AIRCRAFT ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY.

Abstract

The results of a cooperative effort by Stanford Research Institute, United Air Lines, and Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories to determine the correlation between regions of clear-air turbulence (CAT) and aircraft electrical activity are described. Corona discharges from precipitation static dischargers on DC-8 aircraft were monitored and correlated with CAT encounters. A significant correlation was found to exist between CAT encounters and periods of electrical discharge. It is suggested that these electrical discharges may be caused by electric fields in the region of clear-air turbulence, particulate matter in the region that charges the aircraft, or a combination of both. A meteorological analysis was made of the regions where turbulence associated with electrical activity was observed. This analysis indicated that the CAT incidents were associated with jet streams. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1965
Accession Number
AD0625309

Entities

People

  • Edward F. Vance
  • Joseph E. Nanevicz
  • Sidney M. Serebreny

Organizations

  • SRI International

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Atmospheric Motion
  • Clear Air Turbulence
  • Electric Fields
  • Jet Streams
  • Particulate Matter
  • Precipitation Static
  • Static Dischargers
  • Turbulence

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aerosol Science/Aerosol Physics
  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Plasma Physics.