Stratospheric Turbulence and Temperature Gradients Measured by an RB-57F. Coldscan Flights 19 to 56

Abstract

Since January 1969, a USAF RB-57F high altitude weather reconnaissance aircraft has carried a special NRC instrumentation system to measure and record stratospheric turbulence and horizontal temperature gradients encountered at altitudes from 40,000 to above 60,000 feet. The chief purpose of this co-operative program, named 'Coldscan', is to collect data on atmospheric conditions at altitudes to be flown by the supersonic transports. To date, 57 data flights have been flown, covering 82,000 nautical miles of the central and western United States, Ontario, and the Pacific Ocean south of Panama. This is the second Coldscan data report and includes a summary of the results of all 57 flights, in addition to detailed accounts of a selection of 20 events from Flights 19 through 56 that showed significant temperature gradients or light to moderate turbulence. These presentations include time histories of the recorded variables, flight tracks showing event positions, and meteorological analyses.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1970
Accession Number
AD0720955

Entities

People

  • E. G. Morrissey
  • J. I. Macpherson

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Climate Change
  • Data Acquisition
  • Frequency
  • High Altitude
  • Instrumentation
  • Jet Streams
  • Magnetic Tape
  • Measurement
  • Navigators
  • Reconnaissance Aircraft
  • Recording Systems
  • Temperature Gradients
  • Terrain
  • Turbulence
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aerosol Science/Aerosol Physics
  • Oceanography.
  • Technical Research and Report Writing.

Technology Areas

  • Hypersonics
  • Hypersonics - Hypersonic Flow
  • Space