Mission Scientist report for 22 April 2011

Instrument update.  ER-2 ready.  UND ready.  DOE radars:  The southwest X-band is down and is being worked on.  The other two X-bands are fully operational.  The DOE Ka/W radar can only do vertically pointing.  The DOE C-band (C-SAPR) cannot do RHI’s at present, but the full 360 deep volume scan it is currently running is more than adequate for our needs.  The DOE Ka band is operational.  N-pol is operational and currently working to get their data onto the Internet.  OU-Prime is operational.  CF instruments (2DVD’s and gauges, etc) are operational. 

Forecast discussion.  Strong storms are forecast to fire around 21-22Z near Norman.  Initially the activity is expected to consist of isolated storms along a line oriented NE-SW just east of Norman.  This activity is expected to become linearly organized later in the evening and move into Arkansas.  Saturday looks to be pretty quiet over the SGP area.  We are watching for the possibility of a major event starting Sunday afternoon and going into the overnight hours for N. Oklahoma.  If the forecast holds, this will be require a full up, major activity for MC3E. 

ER-2 will take off at 19Z and head for Norman, planning over NRO at 22Z.  We will direct the ER-2 to overfly the isolated storms expected near that time.  We have the UND on standby for possible anvil penetrations in coordination with the ER-2.  OU-Prime to come up in surveillance by 20 Z.  We will assign a 90 degree sector for them to work when the aircraft get into the area and possibly RHI sectors as well.  No coordinated operations with the DOE or N-pol radars are anticipated for today. 

Steve Rutledge

Ed Zipser