Turbulence » Thermal Turbulence Skew-T Procedure
In the absence of significant air mass changes during the warm season, a single-sounding method may be employed to infer turbulence in convective clouds. The so-called "Eastern Airlines Method" is an empirical method developed by comparing pilot reports of turbulence with analyzed soundings.
Procedure:
- Find the convective condensation level (CCL)convective condensation level (CCL)
- Proceed upward from the CCL along a moist adiabat to 400 hPa and determine the parcel temperature (T')
- Subtract the observed 400 hPa temperature (T400) from T' and call the result Delta-T.
Delta-T = T' - T400. - Determine turbulence intensity from the table below:
Delta-T (°C) | Turbulence Intensity |
0 - 3 | Light |
4 - 6 | Moderate |
7 - 9 | Severe |
>9 | Extreme |