Patent ID: 6237405
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: G01J,G01S,G01W

Abstract:
An apparatus for determining atmospheric conditions based on the calculation of the layered average Richardson number, Ri.sub.L, comprising:first temperature measurement means for measuring a plurality of temperatures at an altitude Z.sub.1 ; andmeans for calculating .gradient.T, the vector temperature gradient, over said altitude Z.sub.1 ;second temperature measurement means for determining .DELTA..theta./.DELTA.z , the vertical lapse rate of the potential temperature, where .theta. is the potential temperature and z is the vertical direction;wind shear computational means for determining .differential.V/.differential.z, the vertical wind shear, said wind shear computational means generates said .differential.V/.differential.z signal according to the relation ##EQU16##where V is the gradient wind, V.sub.g is the geostrophic wind, f is the Coriolis parameter resulting from the earth's rotation, K is the curvature of the flow which is the reciprocal of the radius of curvature of a streamline; and .differential.V.sub.g /.differential.z is the vertical shear of the geostrophic wind; andcalculation means responsive to said second temperature measurement means and said wind shear means for calculating Ri.sub.L using the equation: ##EQU17##where g is acceleration due to gravity.