Turbulence

Introduction:

  • Tubulence is an atmospheric phenomenon that causes changes in aircraft altitude, attitude, and or airspeed with aircraft reaction depending on intensity. Pilots report turbulence intensity according to aircraft's reaction
  • Turbulence comes in several forms, identified by its source
  • Aircraft experience turbulence in varying intensities due to the irregular motion of an aircraft in flight, especially when characterized by rapid up-and-down motion caused by a rapid variation of atmospheric wind velocities
    • Turbulence is caused by convective currents (called convective turbulence), obstructions in the wind flow (called mechanical turbulence), and wind shear
  • Turbulence varies from annoying bumpiness to severe jolts, which cause structural damage to an aircraft and/or injury to its passengers
    • The effect of turbulence varies based on the size of the aircraft

Types of Turbulence:

    Mechanical Turbulence:

    • Mechanical turbulence is turbulence caused by obstructions to the wind flow, such as trees, buildings, mountains, and so on
      • Obstructions to the wind flow disrupt smooth wind flow into a complex snarl of eddies
    • Can form in stable or unstable air
    • Presents landing hazards
    • The intensity of mechanical turbulence depends on wind speed and roughness of the obstructions
    • The wind carries the turbulent eddies downstream. How far depends on wind speed and stability of the air
      • Unstable air allows larger eddies to form than those that form in stable air; but the instability breaks up the eddies quickly, while in stable air they dissipate slowly

  • Mountain Wave:

    • Mountain Wave
      Mountain Wave
    • Mountain Wave Clouds
      Mountain Wave Clouds
    • A mountain wave is an atmospheric wave disturbance formed when stable air flow passes over a mountain or mountain ridge, producing hazardous wind conditions [Figure 1]
    • The waves may extend 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) or more downwind from the mountain range
      • Mountain waves frequently produce severe to extreme turbulence
      • Location and intensity varies with wave characteristics
    • Mountain waves often produce violent downdrafts on the immediate leeward side of the mountain barrier, sometimes exceeding maximum aircraft climb rates
      • Up/downdrafts increase as wind speed increases
    • A mountain wave cloud is a cloud that forms in the rising branches of mountain waves and occupies the crests of the waves
      • The most distinctive are the sharp-edged, lens-, or almond-shaped lenticular clouds
      • When sufficient moisture is present in the upstream flow, mountain waves produce interesting cloud formations including: cap clouds, cirrocumulus standing lenticular (CCSL), Altocumulus Standing Lenticular (ACSL), and rotor clouds [Figure 2]
      • These clouds provide visual proof that mountain waves exist
      • However, these clouds may be absent if the air is too dry
    • Stable air and wind speeds between 25-40 knots foster turbulence
    • Mountain Wave
      Mountain Wave
    • Mountain Wave Clouds
      Mountain Wave Clouds

  • Clear Air Turbulence:

    • Typically above 15,000 and in vicinity to the jet steam
    • Drastic changes in wind speed and velocity

  • Frontal Turbulence:

    • Occurs in a narrow zone, just ahead of a fast-moving cold front
    • Updrafts of 1,000 FPM, with significant turbulence

  • Thunderstorm Turbulence:

    • Thunderstorms produce extreme up and downdrafts that can be felt for miles away from a storm
    • Due to the extreme weather found in thunderstorms, up/down drafts of 6,000 feet per minute may be encountered
    • Turbulence risk increases above 10,000 feet due to rapid vertical development

  • Temperature Inversion Turbulence:

    • Temperature inversions are when temperatures rise with altitude gained
    • In the boundary where cold and warm air meet, temperature inversion turbulence may be found

  • Thermal (Convective) Turbulence:

    • Convective Turbulence
      Convective Turbulence
    • Thermals
      Thermals
    • Convective turbulence is turbulent vertical motions that result from convective currents and the subsequent rising and sinking of air
    • Low altitude, with updrafts 200-2,000 FPM
    • For every rising current, there is a compensating downward current
      • The downward currents frequently occur over broader areas than do the upward currents; therefore, they have a slower vertical speed than do the rising currents
    • Convective currents are most active on warm summer afternoons when winds are light
      • Heated air at the surface creates a shallow, absolutely unstable layer within which bubbles of warm air rise upward
      • Convection increases in strength and to greater heights as surface heating increases
      • Barren surfaces such as sandy or rocky wastelands and plowed fields become hotter than open water or ground covered by vegetation
        • Thus, air at and near the surface heats unevenly
      • Because of uneven heating, the strength of convective currents can vary considerably within short distances
    • Typically short distance, with possibly severe turbulence below the clouds
    • Varies widely with terrain
    • As air moves upward, it cools by expansion
      • A convective current continues upward until it reaches a level where its temperature cools to the same as that of the surrounding air
      • If it cools to saturation, a cumuliform cloud forms
    • Billowy cumuliform clouds, usually seen over land during sunny afternoons, are signposts in the sky indicating convective turbulence [Figure 7]
      • The cloud top usually marks the approximate upper limit of the convective current
      • A pilot can expect to encounter turbulence beneath or in the clouds, while above the clouds, air generally is smooth
      • When convection extends to great heights, it develops larger towering cumulus clouds and cumulonimbus with anvil-like tops
      • The cumulonimbus gives visual warning of violent convective turbulence
    • When the air is too dry for cumuliform clouds to form, convective currents can still be active
      • This is called dry convection, or thermals [Figure 8]
      • A pilot has little or no indication of their presence until encountering the turbulence
    • Surfaces such as roads or homes radiant heat while surfaces such as farms or water absorb radiant heat
    • Convective Turbulence
      Convective Turbulence
    • Thermals
      Thermals

  • Wake Turbulence:

    • Wake turbulence is a function of an aircraft producing lift, creating a vortex that forms two counter-rotating vortices trailing behind the aircraft is the distrubance of airflow caused by the wake left behind from a surface

Turbulence Intensities:

  • Turbulence is classified by its intensity:

    • Light Turbulence:

      • Causes slight, erratic changes in altitude and/or attitude (pitch, roll, or yaw). Report as Light Turbulence. Or causes slight, rapid, and somewhat rhythmic bumpiness without appreciable changes in altitude or attitude. Report as Light Chop

    • Moderate Turbulence:

      • Similar to Light but of greater intensity. Changes in altitude and/or attitude occur but the aircraft remains in positive control at all times. It usually causes variations in indicated airspeed. Report as Moderate Turbulence. Or turbulence that is similar to Light Chop but of greater intensity. It causes rapid bumps or jolts without appreciable changes in aircraft altitude or attitude. Report as Moderate Chop

    • Severe Turbulence:

      • Causes large, abrupt changes in altitude and/or attitude. It usually causes large variations in indicated airspeed. Aircraft may be momentarily out of control

    • Extreme Turbulence:

      • The aircraft is violently tossed about and is practically impossible to control. It may cause structural damage

Turbulence Reports and Forecasts:

Avoiding Turbulence:

  • Common sense, like high-altitude and mountainous terrain can expect turbulence in high wind days
  • If flying at lower altitudes, flying early in the morning or in the evening, avoiding the 1pm - 5pm period of higher thermal turbulence risk
  • In less obvious situations, tools like SkyPath can provide a path through atmospheric acitivity
  • NOAA's Eddy Dissipation Rate (EDR) also helps predict turbulent flow in the atmosphere

Penetrating Turbulence:

  • Turbulence may be unavoidable, or unforeseen
  • When encountering turbulence, pilots may penetrate by flying Va, maneuvering speed
    • If published, Vb or Vo provide more precise solutions, and are generally 10-20 knots lower than Va
  • The appropriate V-speed provides protection from rapid changes in AoA, related to, but not directly the "full control surface deflection" quoted by maneuvering speed

Private Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information Airman Certification Standards:

  • Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with weather information for a flight under VFR
  • References: 14 CFR part 91; AC 91-92; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25, FAA-H-8083-28
  • Note: If K2 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant’s knowledge of at least three sub-elements
  • Note: If K3 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant’s knowledge of at least three sub-elements
  • Private Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information Knowledge:

The applicant must demonstrate understanding of:

Private Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information Risk Management:

The applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with:

Private Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information Skills:

The applicant exhibits the skills to:

  • PA.I.C.R1:

    Use available aviation weather resources to obtain an adequate weather briefing.

  • PA.I.C.R2:

    Analyze the implications of at least three of the conditions listed in K3a through K3l, using actual weather or weather conditions provided by the evaluator.

  • PA.I.C.R3:

    Correlate weather information to make a go/no-go decision.

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information Airman Certification Standards:

  • Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with weather information for a flight under VFR
  • Note: If K2 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant’s knowledge of at least three sub-elements
  • Note: If K3 is selected, the evaluator must assess the applicant’s knowledge of at least three sub-elements
  • References: 14 CFR part 91; AC 91-92; AIM; FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25, FAA-H-8083-28

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Private Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information Knowledge:

The applicant demonstrates an understanding of:

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information Risk Management:

The applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with:

  • CA.I.C.R1:

    Making the go/no-go and continue/divert decisions, including:

  • CA.I.C.R2:

    Use and limitations of:
    • CA.I.C.R2a:
      Installed onboard weather equipment.
    • CA.I.C.R2b:
      Aviation weather reports and forecasts.
    • CA.I.C.R2c:
      Inflight weather resources.

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Weather Information Skills:

The applicant exhibits the skills to:

  • CA.I.C.S1:

    Use available aviation weather resources to obtain an adequate weather briefing.

  • CA.I.C.S2:

    Analyze the implications of at least three of the conditions listed in K3a through K3l, using actual weather or weather conditions provided by the evaluator.

  • CA.I.C.S3:

    Correlate weather information to make a go/no-go decision.

Turbulence Case Studies:

Conclusion:

References: