A new method for estimating atmospheric turbulence from global high-resolution radiosonde data and comparison with the Thorpe method

Abstract

This study proposes a new method for estimating atmospheric turbulence from high vertical-resolution radiosonde data (HVRRD) using the minimum Richardson number (Rimin). While previous studies using HVRRD have primarily been based on the Thorpe method, which detects turbulence only in regions of local potential temperature overturning (Ri<0) and does not explicitly account for wind shear, the proposed approach overcomes these limitations. By incorporating the effects of gravity waves on the static stability and vertical wind shear, this method enables the detection of turbulence not only in regions of Ri<0 but also within statically stable layers characterized by strong shear (0