Lidar Investigations of the Effects of Wind and Atmospheric Turbulence on an Aircraft Wake Vortex

The effects of wind and atmospheric turbulence on an aircraft wake vortex are studied experimentally. A 2-mu m coherent Doppler lidar is used for measuring the parameters of the aircraft vortices, wind, and turbulence. The results are presented of lidar measurements of aircraft vortex parameters at different wind velocities and turbulence levels. An empirical dependence of the aircraft vortex lifespan on the dissipation rate of atmospheric turbulence energy has been obtained from the experimental data for the first time.