3 Sep 2010 Tri-Agency Mission Scientist Report - Jason Dunion
Mission synopsis: 03 Sept 2010.
NOAA/IFEX:
The P-3s are continuing to fly EMC-tasked Tail Doppler Radar (TDR) missions into Hurricane Earl. N42RF was scheduled for a take-off from Tampa at 08 UTC today, but was delayed ~2 1/2 hrs. N42RF is currently flying a butterfly pattern in the storm and is also planning to fly a NESDIS inner-core pattern. Recovery will be back to Tampa. N43RF is planning to fly a TDR mission (rotated figure-4) into Earl with a 20 UTC take-off from Richmond, VA. This will be a ~7 1/2 mission and will recover back to Richmond at ~04 UTC tomorrow (Sat 04 Sep). The G-IV will fly an Extratropical research mission around Earl with a take-off at 1730 UTC (Tampa-Tampa).
These are the last planned missions into Earl and concludes 6 days of continuous flights. NOAA does not plan any deployments out east for the next several days, but will continue to monitor the progress of TD Gaston.
NASA/GRIP:
The GH returned to Dryden at ~04 UTC today after a successful mission in Hurricane Earl. A high priority for the coming days will be to repair and test the GH dropsonde system, though future viable targets will be monitored as well. This will be a no-fly day for the DC-8. The WB-57 has returned to NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. The WB-57 did suffer some damage to its canopy seal pump during its mission yesterday and repairs will be a priority in the coming days.
Tomorrow (Sat 04 Sep): this will be a hard down day for all NASA aircraft
Extended outlook (Sun 05 Sep through early next week): NASA is considering a possible DC-8 deployment to St. Croix on Sunday (05 Sep) or Mon (06 Sep) for missions into TD Gaston. Coordination with PREDICT and the G-V would be a high priority for these missions and considerations re: whether or not to deploy will be weighed by NASA mission scientists this afternoon.
NSF/PREDICT:
PREDICT is currently flying a mission (STX-STX) in PGI38 (TD-Gaston).
Tomorrow (Sat 04 Sep) will be a hard down day for the G-V.
Sunday (05 Sep): PREDICT mission scientists are considering continued missions into TD Gaston and have put the G-V on alert
Extended outlook (Monday 06 Sep-Tues 07 Sep): PREDICT will continue monitoring the progress of Gaston and continue missions into the system if it remains a viable target. The G-V could begin 2x/day missions into Gaston (daylight only) if/when it is within a 1 1/2 hr ferry from STX to the storm.
AIR FORCE:
The AF is currently tasked for fixes on:
Hurricane Earl:
03 Sept: 00/06/12/18 UTC
04 Sept: 00/06/12/18
05 Sept: no tasking
TS Fiona:
03 Sep : 12 UTC
04 Sep : 00 UTC
05 Sept: no tasking
