Anyone who has experienced turbulence in flight knows that it is usually not pleasant, and may wonder why this is so difficult to avoid. The book includes papers by various aviation turbulence researchers and provides background into the nature and causes of atmospheric turbulence that affect aircraft motion, and contains surveys of the latest techniques for remote and in situ sensing and forecasting of the turbulence phenomenon. It provides updates on the state-of-the-art research since earlier studies in the 1960s on clear-air turbulence, explains recent new understanding into turbulence generation by thunderstorms, and summarizes future challenges in turbulence prediction and avoidance.

The book is a concise guide dealing with the subject of air turbulence and its methods of detection with particular applications to aviation turbulence. It begins with a general description of turbulence and provides a background into the nature and causes of atmospheric turbulence that affect aircraft motion, giving updates on the state-of-the-art research on clear air turbulence (CAT). Important physical processes leading to the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, a primary producer of CAT, are also explained. The several categories of CAT along with its impact on commercial aviation are also presented in a separate chapter, with particular emphasis on the structural damages to planes and injuries. The central theme of the book deals with both the earlier and the latest CAT detecting methods and techniques for remote and in situ sensing and forecasting. A concise presentation of new technologies for reducing aviation weather-related accidents is also offered. A chapter on the weather accident prevention project of the NASA aviation safety program is also included. Additionally, the book ends with a full description of the recent research activities on CAT and future challenges in turbulence detection, prediction and avoidance.

Injuries due to air turbulence has increased recently, therefore there is considerable concern and interest in understanding and detecting it more accurately. Presently hardly any research deals with air turbulence detection using remote sensing images. Most works use conventional optical remote sensing data with classical methods such as a library spectral signature, band ratio, and principal component analysis without designating new methods and technology. Very little research has attempted to implement optical and microwave remote sensing images for air turbulence detections. This book provides new image processing procedures for air turbulence detection using advanced remote sensing images and quantum image processing. Currently, there is a huge gap between research work in the field of air turbulence detection and advanced remote sensing technology. Most of the theories are not operated in terms of software modules. Most of the software packages in the field of remote sensing images cannot deal with advanced image processing techniques in air turbulence detections due to heavy mathematics work. In this view, this book fills a gap between advanced remote sensing technology and air turbulence detection. For instance, quantum image processing with a new generation of remote sensing technology such as RADARSAT-2 SAR images is also implemented to provide accurate air turbulence detections.