A Case Study of Extreme Turbulence Possibilities Based on Considerations of Buoyancy and Horizontal Divergence
A study into the possibility of extreme turbulence occurring in a particular synoptic situation is discussed here. The synoptic weather data are reviewed, and the magnitude of turbulence that might be expected is computed by two different methods. The limitations of each method are discussed. While it might be concluded that thunderstorm updraft velocities were of the order of those producing extreme turbulence, the assumptions are so restrictive that it is not possible to assign confidence limits to the computed gust velocities.