Mission objectives:
Results :
All DC-8 objectives were satisfied. The early departure of the ER-2 and the need to turn off E-DOP was a disappointment, as there was no EDOP data over Danielle, and of course the ER-2 did not go to Andros.
Danielle gradually developed a better-organized inner core structure at DC-8 altitude. Even on the first pass (W-E), there was a circular radar eye (DC-8 radar) of about 40 nm diameter and some noticeable updrafts in the west wall cloud on entry. Through out the two figure-four patterns, the best convection appeared on the west semicircle, sometimes with light-moderate turbulence. No lightning was observed in the eyewall, although some was later observed in the "clear slot" on the SE side at large radius from more isolated storms. The wind eye was fairly well-marked by 30-40 knot winds at radii of 25-30 nm.
The large sawtooth pattern encountered more clouds than had
been anticipated; during the 8-9 hours that elapsed since
mission planning the clear area on the east and south sides had
filled in considerably. (This could have been flown first, had
not the Andros overpass been scheduled for after dark, which
constrained the flight planning for the main mission.) Despite
the cloud increase, most of the pattern obtained good data,
especially at 19000'on the NE side, and at 21000' on the south
side. The Andros overpass was made as scheduled, but I do not
know whether the cloud conditions were considered suitable.
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