CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE DETECTOR

This disclosure describes an apparatus for warning the pilot of an aircraft of a region of clear air turbulence. A multi-channel radiometric sensor mounted on the aircraft detects both the ambient temperature of the air and any temperature anomaly that is present along the forward flight path. In those cases where temperature anomalies are associated with the presence of a clear air turbulence region, the invention provides means for remotely sensing these temperature anomalies through the application of a unique radiometric technique. By the detection of difference temperatures between a minimum of two channels, the invention provides a means for indicating the existence of a temperature anomaly indicative of clear air turbulence region. In addition, the distance from the aircraft to the anomalous temperature region is directly determined from the output indication of the radiometric sensor channels. The distance between the clear air turbulence region and the aircraft is determined by utilization of at least two observing frequencies which have known absorption coefficients of different values.