Reducing Turbulence-Related Incidents

Challenge

According to a review of NTSB data from 1992 to 2001, turbulence was a factor in at least 509 accidents in the United States that resulted in 251 deaths in general aviation. Between 2002 and 2013, there were 430 passenger and crew injuries due to turbulence.

Solution

NCAR Turbulence Detection Algorithm (NTDA)
Making use of wind variability data provided by Doppler weather radars, RAL scientists developed and tested the NCAR Turbulence Detection Algorithm (NTDA), designed for use on the nation's network of NEXRAD radars. NTDA utilizes NEXRAD reflectivity, radial velocity, and spectrum width to produce atmospheric turbulence intensity (eddy dissipation rate, EDR) measurements of "in–cloud" turbulence.

Benefits

NTDA is operational on all NEXRAD systems; this technology has helped reduce turbulence-related incidents by diagnosing the location of turbulence near storms.

Contact

Please direct questions/comments about this page to:

Greg Meymaris

Soft Eng/Prog III

email