A case study of clear air turbulence over Iran using turbulence indices for the period January to May 2004

Tajbakhsh, Sahar; Azadi, Majid; A. Bidokhti, Abbas Ali; Arabli, Parvin

doi:10.22059/jesphys.2006.80068

A case study of clear air turbulence over Iran using turbulence indices for the period January to May 2004

Authors

Sahar Tajbakhsh ¹

Majid Azadi ²

Abbas Ali A. Bidokhti ³

Parvin Arabli ⁴

¹ Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Sector, P.O.Box 14515-775, Tehran

² Meteorological and Atmospheric Research Center, P. O. Box 14155-6466,Tehran

³ Institute of Geophysics, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 14155-6466, Tehran, Iran

⁴ Islamic Republic of Iran Meteorological Organization, P. O. Box 14155-6466,Tehran

10.22059/jesphys.2006.80068

Abstract

An attempt is made to calculate some important quantities, such as wind shear, related to clear air turbulence (CAT) and their associated turbulence indices. Thresholds of the indices are calculated for moderate and light to moderate cases of CATs over Iran for a five months period (from January to May 2004) and corresponding large scale atmospheric patterns at upper levels have been examined. Indices are calculated using AVN model outputs and compared with pilot reports for CAT. Results showed that occurrence of CAT with intensity more that moderate is very rare over the region. Threshold values of Elrod-2 and Dutton are in good agreement with values calculated over Europe and USA. Most of the turbulence occurs in 250-300 hPa layer. Also, it was seen that above the geopotential trough the condition is favorable for the formation of intense CATs.

Keywords

Clear air turbulence (CAT)

Turbulence indices

Wind shear

Englobal model

Bumpiness