2 Sep 2010 Tri-Agency Mission Scientist Report

Mission synopsis: 02 Sept 2010.

NOAA/IFEX:
NOAA is now in full operational-tasking mode for Hurricane Earl with its aircraft: the P-3s are flying EMC-tasked Tail Doppler Radar (TDR) missions and the G-IV is flying a NHC-tasked Synoptic Surveillance mission.  N42RF took off from Tampa at 08 UTC, conducted a successfull TDR mission into Earl, and recovered in Tampa.  N43RF is planning to fly a TDR mission (rotated figure-4) into Earl with a 20 UTC take-off.  The G-IV is currently flying its last NHC-tasked Synoptic Surveillance mission around Earl (0530 UTC take-off today).

Tomorrow (Fri 03 Sep) N42RF will fly a follow-on TDR mission into Earl, taking off from Tampa at 08 UTC and recovering back to Tampa or possibly Charleston.  N43RF will fly a follow-on TDR mission as well, with a 20 UTC take-off from Richmond VA and possible recovery in Baltimore.  The G-IV may fly an Extratropical research mission around Earl with a take-off at 1730 UTC.  These are  the last planned misisons into Earl.  Flights into Gaston and a re-deployment to Barbados are unlikely at this time.

NASA/GRIP:
The DC-8 took off from FLL today at 16 UTC to fly a ~8 hr mission into Hurricane Earl.  The Global Hawk has been flying Earl this morning and has been successfully overflying the storm.  Plans include a coordinated W-E leg between the DC-8 and GH to the center of Earl.  The WB-57 is scheduled to take-off at 2015 UTC to fly a ~6 hr mission (2 hr on-station) in Hurricane Earl.     

Tomorrow (Fri 03 Sep): The GH will be landing at ~04 UTC at Dryden after completing its mission into Hurricane Earl.  This will be a no-fly day for the DC-8.  The WB-57 will ferry back to NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX.

Sat (04 Sept): this will be a hard down day for all NASA aircraft.

NSF/PREDICT:
Today PREDICT is currently flying a mission (STX-STX) in PGI38 (ex-Gaston).

Tomorrow (Fri 03 Sep) the G-V is planning a follow-on mission in PGI38 (ex-Gaston).  A 9hr mission is planned, with a 12 UTC take-off (STX-STX).

Saturday (04 Sep): PREDICT PIs and mission coodinators are still discussing options for Saturday...whether the G-V will continue flying missions, have a no-fly day, or hard down day is TBD.

AIR FORCE:
The AF is currently tasked for fixes on:
Hurricane Earl:
02 Sept: 15/18/21 UTC
03 Sept: 00/06/12/18 UTC
04 Sept: 00/06/12/18

TS Fiona:
03 Sep : 18 UTC
04 Sep : 00 UTC