An exceptionally well-defined gravity wave event, recorded by radar and on the 300 meter meteorologicaltower near Erie, Colorado, is analyzed in this report. Special attention is given the kinematic structure within the wave to assess possible hazards to aircraft. It is found that changes of about 5 ms to the minus 1 in vertical velocity would be encountered by an aircraft in a time period of 6.5 s. A similar change in air speed would be encountered 90 degrees out of phase with the up-downdraft. The maximum effect in this event was at a height of 100-150 m above the ground. Events of this kind would often occur in fair weather under thermally stable atmospheric conditions, and would not, therefore, be predicted from the usual reasoning about near-ground hazards to aircraft.
Aircraft Hazard Assessment from a Clear-Air Radar and Meteorological Tower Study of Gravity Wave Events
1983
23 pages
Report
No indication
English
Meteorological analysis of reports of turbulence encountered by aircraft in clear air
Engineering Index Backfile | 1952
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