Turbulence Measurements in a Young Cyclone Over the Ocean1

Abstract

A flight was made through a young coastal storm with a PBY-6A aircraft equipped to measure both mean temperatures and rapid variations of the temperature and turbulent gust velocities. Low level observations were obtained which show the thermal structure of the cyclone and the magnitude of the turbulence, the shearing stresses and the heat flows. Particularly strong turbulence was noted in the transition zone between the cool air of the anticyclone and the faster moving air of the warm sector. Stable air and downward heat flow was observed in the cold air mass.