Laser system developed to detect air turbulence

Telegraph : Clear-air turbulence, which can’t be seen with the naked eye or current sensors, is very hard to predict. It is caused by layers of air moving past each other at different rates and creating wave-like effects. When a plane encounters those areas, it can experience anything from minor vibrations to a sudden loss of altitude, which can result in passengers, luggage, and loose objects being thrown around the cabin. On very rare occasions, extreme turbulence has resulted in crashes. To try to detect such turbulence in advance, a new system using UV lasers is being tested on flights in Europe. The system is a variation on lidar: The device fires a laser ahead of the plane and measures the amount of light scattered back; from that data, the density of the air molecules and the movement of the air can be determined. Some estimates place the damage from turbulence at £100 million ($154 million) annually. With predictions that global warming could increase turbulence on North Atlantic flights , finding a way to prepare for or reroute around turbulent areas could provide significant savings to airlines.