ER-2 Flight Summary for 07/24/2005
Sortie Number: 05-9033
Take off: 0200
Landing: 1000
Mission Description:
Report by Dan Cecil
After coordinated missions into the vigorous tropical wave near the Yucatan Peninsula Friday and Friday night, missions are flown into the same system in the Bay of Campeche Saturday afternoon (NOAA 42) and night (NOAA 43 and NASA ER-2). Based on the circulation found by NOAA 42 dropsondes, NHC upgraded the wave to Tropical Depression 7 at 2100 UTC 23 July (Saturday afternoon).
Upon launch of the Saturday night / Sunday morning mission, the system does not have an obvious coupling between a low-level center and the deep convection. However, deep convection is plentiful and full-fledged genesis is anticipated during (or shortly after) tonights mission. A Figure Four pattern is planned with axes along 95 W and 21 N and downwind leg in the NW quadrant. A convective burst module is anticipated.
Mission Objectives:
Document Tropical Depression 7 during a key stage of genesis, while coupling between circulation and convection establishes a well-defined inner core.
Mission Notes:
Strong convection and frequent lightning encountered on the ferry near extreme SE Nicaragua. LIP is active over S Belize, although the convection has moved SW into Guatamala.
LIP begins encountering lightning again after 0425 UTC, after ER-2 turns west in Bay of Campeche toward TD-7 along ~19.6 N, then north near 95 W (near apparent system center). Convection bursting between 20 23 N, 94 97 W. ER-2 then turns left for a NW-SE pass with E fields and lightning, then back out to WNW (after a convective burst module).
0548 UTC NHC Special Advisory updates TD-7 to TS Gert based on 36 kt surface wind from NOAA-43 SFMR. 0600 UTC center 19.8 N, 94.7 W. Majority of our flight has been N and NW of NHCs center.
After NOAA leaves ~0600, Im sending ER-2 on a racetrack SSE past the center, through 20.65 N, 94.7 W to 19.5 N, 94.1 W, then right turn and racetrack back on 20 nmi WSW of previous line.
Dropsondes from NOAA-43 confirm that a new center developed to the north, where the planes spent most of their coordinated time , ~20.9 N, 95.1W.
Immediately after the mission, it is beginning to look like an inner core is becoming established with the IR presentation now resembling a tropical storm.
ER-2 pilot saw some lightning north of the pattern; otherwise most was along the ferry and in the racetrack.
Excellent coordination between aircraft.
Other Mission Assets:
Ticosonde launched soundings on the regular 00, 06, 12, 18 UTC schedule.
Flight Track:
Navigation Data
Instrument Status:
| Instrument Acronym | Status during sortie | Full Report | Quicklooks |
| AMPR | Green |
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| CRS | Green |
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| EDOP | Green |
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| HAMSR | Green |
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| MAS | Green |
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| MTP | Green |
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