Measurements of aircraft wake vortices by Laser Doppler Velocimetry can provide unique, full-scale information on vortex generation, evolution, trajectory and decay in the real atmosphere. During trials at Heathrow nearly 3,000 records of vortices from landing aircraft were made over 25 days spread between November 1994 and September 1995. Examples of some of the initial results are presented, including characteristic vortex signatures and profiles from different aircraft, analysis of vortex strength and trajectory, and an unusual record of a B747 vortex that initially descended but then returned to the glideslope with virtually undiminished strength 70 seconds after its generation. The way in which this information has been deduced from the measurements is explained fully, and the trade-offs between the resolution and coverage of measurements are described.
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Greenwood et al. (1998) studied this question.