As part of a general programme of shared talks with the IOP, the IMA London & South East invite members to attend the following talk:
Speaker:
Dr Mohamed Foudad
Bio:
Postdoctoral Researcher in Turbulence Modelling in the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading, UK. He previously studied fluid mechanics at Université Pierre et Marie Curie (now Sorbonne Université) and holds a PhD in Atmospheric Science and Climate from the Université de Toulouse, France.
Abstract:
Aviation is both a driver of climate change and increasingly impacted by it. One of the most significant impacts is on clear-air turbulence (CAT), a type of atmospheric turbulence that occurs away from a visible convective activity. CAT cannot be detected visually by pilots or by using onboard radar and is the leading cause of weather-related in-flight injuries in commercial aviation.
In this talk, recent research on CAT and climate change, CAT-aware flight routing, and the development of a new CAT diagnostic will be presented. First, it will be shown that CAT frequency has increased in several regions of the Northern Hemisphere over recent decades, and future climate projections indicate further CAT intensification at cruising altitudes across various global warming scenarios. It will then be demonstrated that North Atlantic weather regimes and CAT are strongly linked, and that incorporating this information into a flight planning model can support safer and more fuel-efficient routes. Finally, a new mathematical formulation of the Richardson number (Ri) will be introduced, derived from the full turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) budget that incorporates both vertical and horizontal wind shear. Results show that the new Ri performs better than the conventional Ri and other indices. Furthermore, combining the new Ri with additional diagnostics leads to significant improvements in upper-level turbulence forecasting.
A seminar to be given at Aldermaston Recreational Society Function Room on Wednesday 8th October 2025.
Doors: 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start.
Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be served.
Organised by IMA London and South East Branch
The lecture is free and open to all.
The venue can be found on the A340 Basingstoke to Newbury Road, just before the Heath End Roundabout at Tadley.
The correct gate is signposted West Gate or AWE Staff + Deliveries.
What3words: amending.visitors.simulations
Image credit: Pixabay
