A modeling investigation of cloud-induced turbulence

Todd P. Lane, Robert D. Sharman, Terry L. Clark

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

On 10 July 1997 a commercial passenger aircraft encountered severe turbulence, near Dickinson, ND, while passing directly over a developing thunderstorm. While passing over this cloud, the aircraft suffered accelerations of approximately two g's, in a period of about 10 seconds. Subsequently, twenty passengers and two flight attendants suffered minor injuries. This turbulence encounter motivates the current modeling study, which seeks to understand the generation of turbulence in the clear-air directly above penetrating deep convection. A high-resolution two-dimensional cloudresolving model simulation will be presented. This calculation resolves both the cloud, and the turbulence that develops. Turbulence evolves in the clear air above the cloud, late in the cloud's evolution. This turbulence owes its existence to local instabilities near the cloud boundary, and breaking gravity waves aloft.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication41st Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit
StatePublished - 2003
Event41st Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit 2003 - Reno, NV, United States
Duration: Jan 6 2003Jan 9 2003

Publication series

Name41st Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit

Conference

Conference41st Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit 2003
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityReno, NV
Period01/6/0301/9/03

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