Mission Summary
20160920I1 Aircraft 43RF
Tropical Storm Karl

Aircraft Crew (43RF)
Aircraft CommanderScott Price
Co-pilotDanny Rees
Co-pilotNate Kahn
NavigatorPete Siegel
Flight EngineerKen Heystek
Flight DirectorBrian Belson
Flight DirectorIan Sears
Data TechnicianDana Naeher
Dropsonde OperatorBobby Peek
Dropsonde OperatorJeff Hartberger
Scientific Crew (43RF)
LPS/DWLLisa Bucci>HRD
RadarBrad KlotzHRD
DropsHui ChristophersenHRD
Ocean WindsJoe SappNESDIS

Scientific Crew (Ground)
RadarJohn GamacheHRD

Mission Plan :


Environmental steering currents 15Z

Shear Analysis 15Z

The mission is to conduct a RAPX experiment into Tropical Storm Karl. The 40kt, 1006mb system is located northeast of the Greater Antilles and moving West at about 15 knots (Figure 1). It is located east of an upper level lower which is creating some SSW shear analyzed at about 15 knots (Figure 2). Satellite presentation shows an exposed low-level center with convection displayed to the N and E and possible dry air to the west and south. Track guidance show Karl will continue to travel up west until turning north towards Bermuda in the next 4 days (Figure 3). Intensity forecasts show a potential rapid intensification of Karl in the next 24-72 hours (Figure 4).


12Z Track forecasts

12Z Intensity forecasts

The plan is perform a rotated Figure-4 pattern to capture a symmetric coverage of the storm prior to RI with an initial point (IP) to the south (Figure 5a). Given the shallow depth of the storm, no flight level center fixes (10000 feet) will be performed. Instead, the pattern will be centered on the LLC using visible indicators. Upon completion of the mission to the east, the plane will return to St. Croix. This flight is concurrent with a G-IV synoptic mission. Therefore only sondes will only be dropped at the midpoints, on the non-cardinal direction end points, and once in the center.

MISSION PLAN: KARL
Prepared by the Hurricane Research Division
File: current1.ftk
September 20, 2016
Aircraft: N43RF
Proposed takeoff: 20/1800Z
DROP LOCATION TABLE
# LAT LON RAD/AZM Time
deg min deg min n mi/deg hr:min
1S19 0653 36 90/1801:59
2S22 0653 36 90/0002:45
3S20 3655 12 90/2703:17
4S20 3652 00 90/0904:03
5S21 4052 28 90/0454:21
6S19 3254 43 90/2255:07
7S19 3252 29 90/1355:39
8S21 4054 44 90/3156:25
Mission Summary :

Take off Landing
St. Croix, USVI 18:00 UTC St. Croix, USVI 02:00 UTC


Proposed and Actual flight tracks

The rotated Figure-4 pattern was flown but the start was shifted to the S and the end in the NW (Figure 5b). Shear from the upper level low to the west continues to displace convection to the east and north. Radar composites show a weak, shallow vortex with the strongest convection in the NE quadrant (Figure 6). Western environment remains dry though sondes show moistening in the low levels on the southern portion of the storm. No TS force winds were found on either sondes or SFMR. The strongest surface (34kts) and flight level winds (25kts) were located in the NE. Hunted for a flight level center on the last pass and did not find a coherent vortex.


Radar analyses

A total of 14 sondes were dropped (1 bad sonde) and 4 radar analyses were completed.

Mission Evaluation:

Coordinated with the G-IV well to conserve expendable resources. Weakening Karl makes RI less likely in the next couple days. Presence of the upper level low seems to be the inhibiting factor to intensification since the environment is slowly moistening and the SSTs are favorable.

Problems :

Only minor problems. LPS was not working at the beginning of the flight and the LF went down on the transit to the storm however was up once in Karl.


Mission Data :


Final flight track

Plot of raw High Density Obs

Plot of raw Flight Level winds

Plot of raw SFMR winds
Flight Director's log | NetCDF data | serial data


Page last updated Feb. 1, 2017
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