THE DISTRIBUTION OF CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE REPORTS AND CLOUD PATTERNS AS SEEN IN SATELLITE PHOTOGRAPHS

Selected COMBAR reports of clear air turbulence for ten days from April and May 1960 are studied in association with the cloud distribution shown by TIROS I during this period. Characteristic cloud patterns accompany certain types of weather systems, particularly low pressure vortices, and often delineate, rather well, the location of jet streams and tropopauses (which are known to be associated with clear air turbulence occurrences) about these weather systems. As a consequence, satellite photographs of low pressure vortices may provide a useful supplemental tool in establishing the areal distribution of clear air turbulence risk during various stages of cyclone development. Schematic representations of the typical cloud patterns during three stages of cyclone development are presented. Four case histories are included as characteristic examples. (Author) Unclassified report