A preliminary methodology to assess gust spectra via satellite data

This paper investigates the power spectral density (PSD) of wind gusts by utilizing data from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. The wind gust represents one of the most unpredictable phenomena; indeed, its transient nature presents significant challenges in the aircraft design. Aircraft structural components are designed to deal with fatigue loads generated by the turbulent movement of the air, which, due to the ongoing changes of climate, may increase more and more and affect the safety of the aircraft. The effects of gusts on the structural integrity are typically evaluated through power spectral analysis, which provides a realistic representation of the air movement. The potential impact of climate change on gust spectra urges to incorporate recent data, and satellites are a valuable resource for this purpose. The analysis is divided into two parts: the first combines power spectral analysis with LEO satellite data to assess PSD of vertical wind gust based on von Kármán model (PSDvk); the second compares the PSDvk with the PSD assessed via a model, named "agnostic" (PSDa ), which does not rely on a pre-defined equation. The results, focusing on a part of the transatlantic route, show that the proposed approach allows to reveal annual and seasonal fluctuations in gust patterns. The comparison between PSDvk and PSDa reveals that some differences may occur at high frequencies. These findings highlight the potential of satellite technology to monitor climate change's effects and establish a foundation for further research in this critical area.