Wave patterns and clear air turbulence.

Abstract

Two cases of CAT in which the turbulence was apparently associated with Kelvin-Helmholtz billows are discussed. In the first case, long waves embedded in the mean flow appeared to modify a deep shear layer and produce local regions of enhanced shear, which subsequently gave rise to billow development. In the second case, the billows formed near the lower boundary of a strong baroclinic zone. In both cases, moderate CAT was encountered by T-33 aircraft, and the clear air structures were discernible with a sensitive 10.7-cm wavelength radar.