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Analysis of aircraft flights near convective weather over Europe
Author(s) -
Proud Simon Richard
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
weather
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.467
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1477-8696
pISSN - 0043-1656
DOI - 10.1002/wea.2569
Subject(s) - weather radar , meteorology , environmental science , radar , convection , surface weather observation , air traffic control , severe weather , aeronautics , climatology , weather forecasting , geography , storm , aerospace engineering , geology , engineering , cartography
Convective weather poses a significant risk to the safe conduct of an aircraft, featuring in several recent high‐profile crashes. This study investigates the frequency at which commercial aircraft fly through or close to convective weather. I examine European airspace during a 12‐month period using a combination of radar data and weather satellite images, finding diurnal, seasonal and spatial trends in the number of aircraft flying close to convective weather. This indicates that flight crews, ground staff and air traffic control may require both improved weather information and additional training in how to interpret such information in order to successfully detect and avoid convective weather.