On the Contamination of Stratospheric Turbulence Measurements by Wind Shear

Jean Barat Service d'Aéronomie du C.N.R.S., B.P. 3—91370—Verrieres-Le-Buisson, France

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F. Bertin Centre de Recherches en Physique de l'Environment Terrestre et Planétaire, C.R.P.E., 92131-Issy-Les-Moulineaux, France

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Abstract

Analysis of the velocity filed measured by ballon-borne anemometers through a clear air turbulent patch is presented. It is shown that, except in the case where the ballon altitude is constant, the vertical wind shear related to nonturbulent motions may create a contamination above the outer scale of the turbulent field. The results is typical of all turbulence measurements obtained along non-constant altitude trajectories: it may explain some intriguing characteristics of the gust velocity spectra measured by instrumented aircraft.

Abstract

Analysis of the velocity filed measured by ballon-borne anemometers through a clear air turbulent patch is presented. It is shown that, except in the case where the ballon altitude is constant, the vertical wind shear related to nonturbulent motions may create a contamination above the outer scale of the turbulent field. The results is typical of all turbulence measurements obtained along non-constant altitude trajectories: it may explain some intriguing characteristics of the gust velocity spectra measured by instrumented aircraft.

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