Characterization and Prediction of Clear Air and Optical Stratospheric Turbulence for DoD High Altitude Platforms
Abstract
Stratospheric Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) is a major challenge to the safety, controllability and flight path optimization of the Global Hawk, Predator and other Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Platforms. Optical Turbulence (OT) layers impact on the polarization and focusing of laser beams in communication systems and the Airborne Laser (ABL). The completed fundamental research project investigated the microscale physics of the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (UTLS), closely correlating field measurements, high resolution numerical simulations and nonlinear mathematics to explicitly resolve multiscale turbulent dynamics of polarized inertia-gravity waves in the UTLS region. High performance massively parallel codes for the fully compressible, nonhydrostatic 3D Navier-Stokes equations and advanced data analysis tools for atmospheric characterization were developed and validated. High resolution coupled mesoscale/microscale simulations were carried out to characterize patchy, nonhomogeneous, shear-stratified UTLS turbulence under representative local atmospheric conditions (jetstream and topography).The embedded microscale nests and adaptive vertical gridding near the tropopause fully resolved laminated turbulent structures, with localized shear gradients of vertical velocity and potential temperature in the UTLS region.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 21, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA480660
Entities
People
- Alex Mahalov
- Basi Nicolaenko
Organizations
- Arizona State University