Characteristics of Convectively Induced Turbulence in East Asia Using Geostationary Korea Multi‐Purpose Satellite‐2A (GK‐2A) and In Situ Aircraft Data

Abstract Deep convection and its vicinity are important areas of turbulence encountered in cruising aircraft, called convectively induced turbulence (CIT). In this study, deep convection area (DCA) in East Asia is identified using the infrared channel of Geostationary Korea Multi‐Purpose Satellite‐2A (GK‐2A) over 49 months (from August 2019 to August 2023), and CIT is determined by using in situ aircraft data adjacent to the DCA. Based on the satellite‐based CIT algorithm, the results indicate that 13.85%, 15.65%, and 18.23% of the total turbulence cases are classified as CIT over the Korean Peninsula, East Asia, and the full‐disk area, respectively, which are consistent with those in the previous studies. In East Asia, the CIT ratio is the highest in summer primarily due to the East Asian summer monsoon, and surprisingly, it is the second highest in winter. In winter, DCA occurs along the storm tracks accompanied by Aleutian Low, which provides favorable conditions for flights to encounter CIT in the North Pacific Ocean. The CIT intensity decreases rapidly as the horizontal distance between the DCA boundary and CIT location increases. However, at a distance exceeding 40 km from the DCA boundary, the intensity of turbulence gradually increases, which is most significant in winter. This trend is more likely related to the broader areas of DCA in the winter season than those in summer mainly due to the stronger upper‐level jet and its interaction with a storm system. Eventually, this algorithm can provide better information of avoidance guidance for CIT over the ocean.