Turbulence Assessment in Areas Identified by the Convective Diagnosis Oceanic (CDO) Product

The Convective Diagnosis Oceanic (CDO) Product uses remotely-sensed fields from geostationary satellite instruments, as well as a global lightning detection network, to identify areas with increased likelihood for convectively-induced turbulence. Values of Eddy Dissipation Rate (EDR), an objective measure of atmospheric turbulence, have been obtained from domestic airlines flying international routes. CDO’s value ranges from 0 – 6, while EDR’s value corresponds to the types of turbulence, with the following categories: none [0≤EDR<0.1], light [0.1≤EDR<0.4], moderate [0.4≤EDR<0.7], and severe [EDR≥0.7]. This study compares concurrent and co-located values of CDO and EDR to determine the extent to which CDO identifies areas of elevated turbulence. Preliminary results show that there is a direct increase in the rate of occurrence of an observed EDR value, with increasing CDO value, most notable between CDO thresholds of 0 and 2, and above 3. Results will be further differentiated by land/ocean, and altitude. There will also be as assessment for the relationship of EDR with each of CDO’s components of: cloud top height, overshooting tops, GCD (global convective diagnosis – an IR channel differencing product), and lightning.