Measurements of turbulence by an instrumented aircraft in a convective atmospheric boundary layer over the sea

The turbulence measurement instrumentation system installed on the Meteorological Research Flight Hercules aircraft is described and discussed with particular reference to the measurement of atmospheric boundary layer parameters. As an illustration, the structure of a simple, shallow, unstable boundary layer over the sea is discussed. Semi‐organized motions, perhaps in the form of convective rolls or bands aligned roughly parallel to the wind direction, are shown strongly to influence the transport of water vapour and momentum above the surface layer. Where possible, measurements are compared with previous results.