Recorded presentation9.1
The prediction of mountain wave turbulence
Robert D. Sharman, NCAR, Boulder, CO; and J. Abernethy and R. Frehlich
Breaking topographically-induced gravity waves or mountain waves are a major source of turbulence encounters by commercial and general aviation aircraft. A method for forecasting mountain wave-induced turbulence (MWT) over the continental U. S. is presented which uses a combination of MWT seasonal and regional climatologies, terrain characteristics, and turbulence diagnostics derived from numerical weather prediction (NWP) model output. The turbulence diagnostics use scaling laws for second-order structure functions to derive eddy dissipation rates. Accuracy assessments are provided through comparisons to pilot reports of turbulence over mountainous areas in the U.S. where the report specifically indicated that the turbulence was mountain-wave related.
Session 9, Turbulence and Wind Shear Part I
Wednesday, 23 January 2008, 4:00 PM-5:30 PM, 226-227
Next paper