Radar Determination of Turbulence Exceedance Probability
Abstract
Modern high power Doppler VHF radar wind profilers are a valuable source of upper tropospheric turbulence intensity information. These radars can provide more comprehensive characterization of turbulence statistics than any in-situ measurement database, or even models developed from such databases. Sample data sets from two high power radar profilers, located at WSMR, New Mexico, and KSC, Florida, were obtained. The physical processes involved in turbulence production, maintenance, and dissipation were reviewed along with the phenomenology of its detection using radar. Subsequently, methodologies were developed for the retrieval of turbulence intensity statistics, or the so-called turbulence exceedance probabilities (TEP), from such data. The WSMR data analysis shows that, in the 8 to 20 km altitude region, the median turbulence intensity was less than or equal 0.5 m/s. In more turbulent conditions, the 90% and 95% TEP, turbulence intensities were observed to be close to, or slightly in excess of 1.0 m/s, and 1.5 m/s, respectively. The KSC turbulence data analysis resulted in the median close to 1.0 m/s, the 90% TEP near 1.5 m/s, and the maximum 95% TEP of 1.7 m/s. Also considered are the capabilities of a recently developed Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) forecast product. The conclusion is that available TEP guidance could be validated and extended by analysis of data from high power radars.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 25, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA354047
Entities
People
- Carolyn A. Upham
- Daniel C. Peduzzi
- Hsiao-hua K. Burke
- J. William Snow
- Michael P. Jordan
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology