Applications of Satellite Data to Aircraft Turbulence

Three satellite data applications will be used to detect potential aircraft turbulence. The first will be an objective overshooting cloud top (OT) detection algorithm, which uses a combination of 1) 11 μm infrared window (IRW) channel brightness temperatures, 2) a numerical weather prediction (NWP) model tropopause temperature forecast, and 3) OT size and BT criteria. The second is an offshoot of the OT detection algorithm and focuses on tropical convection. This algorithm has used to help aircraft avoid turbulence in recent field experiments. Finally, a cloud top cooling (CTC) algorithm will be used to investigate the relationship between aircraft and growing cumulus clouds. This presentation will highlight recent analyses and case studies of aviation turbulence encounters.