초록 ▼

A clear air turbulence (CAT) detection system performs a nested grid modeling algorithm to detect CAT along the flight path of an aircraft. The aircraft stores coarse simulation information and utilizes the information to perform large scale weather modeling over a large grid. On board sensors are u

A clear air turbulence (CAT) detection system performs a nested grid modeling algorithm to detect CAT along the flight path of an aircraft. The aircraft stores coarse simulation information and utilizes the information to perform large scale weather modeling over a large grid. On board sensors are utilized to generate observational information to model atmospheric conditions within a smaller grid, nested within the larger grid, and including the flight path of the aircraft. A nowcast predicting turbulence along the flight path in the near future alerts the pilot to the likelihood of encountering clear air turbulence. A data link may be utilized to receive coarse simulation data or observational data from sources external to the aircraft. Additionally, the coarse simulation information may include turbulence forecast data and the observational information is used to refine the turbulence forecast to more accurately predict clear air turbulence along the flight path of the aircraft.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [18.] A system located on an aircraft for nowcasting clear air turbulence events occurring along the flight path of the aircraft, said system comprising:on-board storage for storing coarse simulation data, observational data, and program data, with coarse simulation data inclu

[ What is claimed is:] [18.] A system located on an aircraft for nowcasting clear air turbulence events occurring along the flight path of the aircraft, said system comprising:on-board storage for storing coarse simulation data, observational data, and program data, with coarse simulation data including meteorological forecast data for forecasting weather conditions over a large grid;on-board sensors for detecting observational information including meteorological data along the flight path of the aircraft;an on-board computer, coupled to the on-board storage and on-board sensors to execute program code to:process said coarse simulation data to provide large scale weather modeling for a large grid, encompassing an area including the flight path of the aircraft, and to provide initial and boundary conditions for finer-grid modeling;process said observational information, said initial conditions, and said boundary conditions to model atmospheric conditions more accurately within a smaller grid, nested within said larger grid, with the smaller grid approximating the flight path of the aircraft, to provide a nowcast of CAT likelihood along the flight path of the aircraft.