WIND SHEAR CHARACTERIZATION

A brief review of the major causes of severe low-level wind shear indicates that the thunderstorm gust front is the most dangerous source of potential aircraft accidents. The study contains the analysis of several gust-front events in detail using meteorological tower, acoustic echo sounder, and pressure sensor data. The results were compared with theoretical models and laboratory studies. Analyses show that gust fronts can probably be detected reliably with a suitable array of different ground-based sensors. However, the determination of wind-shear severity is a more difficult problem. The results thus far show a promising relationship between the gust-front speed of motion and maximum shear.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  Wave Propagation Laboratory
  Boulder, CO  United States  80302
• Authors:
  • Greene, G E
  • Frank, H W
  • Bedard, AJJ
  • Korrell, J A
  • Cairns, M M
• Publication Date: 1977-2

Media Info

• Pagination: 131 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acoustic detectors; Air transportation crashes; Anemometers; Atmospheric pressure; Aviation safety; Doppler radar; Fronts (Meteorology); Gusts; Meteorological instruments; Meteorological phenomena; Meteorology; Model atmosphere; Pressure gages; Sounding; Surges (Fluid mechanics); Thunderstorms; Velocity; Weather forecasting; Weather radar; Wind; Wind shear
• Uncontrolled Terms: Aircraft safety; Intensity; Wind direction
• Old TRIS Terms: Barometric pressure; Ground level; Indicators; Meteorological data; Pressure sensors; Surges; Wind velocity
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Geotechnology; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00167003
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FAA-RD-77-33 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-FA76WAI-622
• Files: NTIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 29 1978 12:00AM