Atmospheric Turbulence Research at WVU

Turbulent Mixing in the Chemistry and Dispersion in the Wake of Subsonic Aircraft

Researchers are investigating the role of turbulent mixing on the dispersion and chemistry of the wakes created by subsonic aircraft. Valid subgrid parameterizations of this effect are being developed for the larger-scale climate models needed to assess the environmental impact of a planned fleet of subsonic aircraft.

Sponsor: NASA

Recent Papers


Lewellen, D.C., and W. S. Lewellen, (2001) "Effects of Aircraft Wake Dynamics on Contrail Development", J. of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 58, 390-406.
PDF Version (530k)

Lewellen, D.C., and W. S. Lewellen, (2001) "The Effects of Aircraft Wake Dynamics on measured and simulated NOx and HOx Wake Chemistry", Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 106, 27661-27672.

Lewellen, D.C., W. S. Lewellen, L. R. Poole, R. J. Decoursey, G. M. Hansen, C. A. Hostetler, and G. S. Kent. Large-Eddy Simulations and Lidar Measurements of Vortex-Pair Breakup in Aircraft Wakes. AIAA Journal, 36:1439 - 1445, 1998.

D. C. Lewellen and W. S. Lewellen. Large-Eddy Simulations of the Vortex-Pair Breakup in Aircraft Wakes. AIAA Journal, 34:2337-2345, 1996.


 

Sample computer plots of research results

 
Slides from presentation at the 1999 Conference on the Atmospheric Effects of Aviation (April 18-23)

SNIF scanning lidar vs. simulation (run 9, 3/13/96, 20:07)

  • Cross-stream integration of the concentration of a tracer species in a wake as a function of time at a given location in space

    • (a) Experimental measurements of engine aerosol behind a B737 with a flight speed of 126 m/s at 3.2 km altitude (Poole, 1996).
    (b) Our LES simulation results for a conservative tracer for similar flight conditions.
  • Tracer concentration
  • Vertically integrated tracer

    • Go to NASA Langley ARB Wake Vortex Experiment Home Page


    Effects of Stratification

  • Vertically integrated dynamic pressure, varying stratification
  • Cross-stream integrated tracer, varying stratification

    • Updated Jan. 10, 2005

    West Virginia University
    Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
    P.O. Box 6106
    Morgantown, WV 26506-6106
    FAX: 304-293-6689
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