Open AccessApplication of LIDAR ‐derived eddy dissipation rate profiles in low‐level wind shear and turbulence alerts at H ong K ong I nternational A irport
Author(s) -
Hon K. K.,
Chan P. W.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
meteorological applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1469-8080
pISSN - 1350-4827
DOI - 10.1002/met.1430
Subject(s) - turbulence , lidar , wind shear , meteorology , turbulence kinetic energy , dissipation , shear (geology) , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , wind speed , physics , geology , optics , thermodynamics , petrology
In aviation meteorology, eddy dissipation rate ( EDR ) is an internationally‐adopted metric for quantifying intensity of low‐level turbulence (rapid, irregular headwind fluctuations experienced by an aircraft below 1600 feet/500 m). In this paper, calculations of EDR 1/3 profiles along arrival corridors ( 07LA , 25RA ) of the H ong K ong I nternational A irport ( HKIA ) were performed over a 45 month period ( J anuary to S eptember, 2008–2012) based on radial velocity from a scanning D oppler LIDAR using the azimuthal velocity structure function approach. The quality of the LIDAR ‐estimated EDR was established by comparison with values calculated from in situ measurements over a 24 month period, which showed that median values of EDR profiles from both sources fell within 0.05 m 2/3 s −1 of each other in over 90% (80%) of instances for 07LA ( 25RA ). The performance in threshold‐based alerting of low‐level turbulence at HKIA was then validated against pilot reports. At alert duration of 10%, alerts based on the maximum value of an EDR profile could capture over 90% (80%) of reported events over 07LA ( 25RA ), while comparable performance with the wind shear and turbulence warning system ( WTWS ) at HKIA was attainable using suitable alert thresholds. Positive skill, albeit inferior to WTWS , was also observed in the alerting of low‐level wind shear (sustained headwind change of 15 knots or above below 1600 feet/500 m) with a hit rate of about 70% at alert duration of 10%. This study served to establish the value of EDR derived from ground‐based remote‐sensing instruments e.g. LIDAR in alerting of low‐level turbulence for the aviation community.