Characteristics of In Cloud Convective Turbulence

In-cloud convective turbulence can be a significant aviation hazard and occur in various regions of convective clouds and larger-scale convective systems. Herein we investigate in cloud convective turbulence characteristics of different types of convective clouds.

To obtain in-cloud turbulence information NCAR’s Turbulence Detection Algorithm (NTDA) was used. The NTDA makes use of NEXRAD-measured radar reflectivity, radial velocity, and spectrum width to perform data quality control and produce estimates of energy (or “eddy”) dissipation rate (EDR), an atmospheric metric of turbulence intensity that can be related to how aircraft of different sizes experience turbulence.

Characteristics of EDR from a variety of different storm types and regions over the Continental United States will be presented.

This research is in response to requirements and funding by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of the FAA. The NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research is a major facility sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreement No. 1852977.