29 Aug 2010 Tri-Agency Mission Scientist Report

 Tri-agency mission summary for Sunday August 29

IFEX
The G-IV flew into Hurricane Earl on Sunday, August 29, with a 1730 UTC takeoff, returning to Barbados. The two P-3 aircraft flew from Barbados into Hurricane Earl on Sunday at 0800 and 2000 UTC, respectively. The G-IV will fly a research mission on Monday, August 30. The G-IV is tasked by NHC to fly from Barbados Tuesday in Hurricane Earl, returning to Tampa. The P-3s will continue to fly into Hurricane Earl with the same 0800 and 2000 UTC takeoff times on Monday from Barbados. The aircraft will remain in Barbados until Tuesday. The P-3s will fly research flights into Hurricane Earl at 0800 and 2000 UTC on Tuesday, then return to Tampa. Both P-3s and the G-IV are tasked to fly into Hurricane Earl as it tracks northward off the U.S. east coast. The last anticipated flight into Hurricane Earl by the P-3s is 0800 UTC Thursday.

GRIP
The DC-8 flew an 8.5 h flight into Hurricane Earl on Sunday August 29. Takeoff was from FLL at 1630 UTC. The DC-8 will fly an 8-h flight today into Hurricane Earl, leaving FLL 1600 UTC and landing in STX. If conditions on the ground do not allow a landing in STX (due to the closeness of Hurricane Earl), the flight will return to FLL. Another flight is planned into Hurricane Earl on Tuesday August 31 from STX. If the Monday flight must return to FLL, Tuesday would likely be a no-fly day for the DC-8.
The Global Hawk did not fly on Sunday August 29. Monday is a no-fly day. A tentative flight into Hurricane Earl would leave late Tuesday (Pacific Daylight Time) or early Wednesday, depending upon the track of the storm. A low altitude dropsonde test is likely to be delayed until later in the week.
The WB-57 is ferrying to Tampa on Monday August 30. Flights are planned into Hurricane Earl on Tuesday, August 31, with likely follow-up flights on Wednesday and Thursday.
 
PREDICT
The G-V ferried to Barbados from STX on Sunday August 29. A flight is planned from Barbados leaving 0900 UTC Monday into PGI36. A follow-on flight into PGI36 is likely at 0900 or 1000 UTC on Tuesday August 31.