Hurricane Félix: RECON Discussion

[JonathanBelles]

What does "SFC CNTR WITHIN 5NM OF FL CNTR" mean? Is that a sign rapid strengthening?

It means it is close to perfectly stacked, but not quite.

[WindRunner]

No . . . basically, it means the storm is having problems with its vertical profile. In other words, the sfc center is shifted off and is not directly beneath the FL center's location . . . typically a sign of shear, but I somewhat doubt that in this case . . .

[x-y-no]

Recon is leaving. That seemed a little short, didn't it?

[txwatcher91]

So that be a sign of continued deepening, right?

When is the next recon flight scheduled for?

[Brent]

Recon is leaving. That seemed a little short, didn't it?

Yes.

[HenkL]

Next one should start in 15 minutes.

[RL3AO]

NOAA plane leaves top of the hour.

[WindRunner]

All of these flights have been relatively short . . . but we also have five flights scheduled over this 24hr period per the POD . . . so it should be a relatively short time without good data flow.

Besides, I need to rip myself away here and enjoy some of the outside air while we have no proof that Felix is bombing out . . . (I fully expect a low 940s pressure from the NOAA plane)

[Derek Ortt]

the NOAA flight is a Doppler radar mission... so it mainl flies around the storm. It's data is used to initialize HWRF (didn't help the 12Z all that much though)

[CrazyC83]

I'd say 110 kt/955mb right now.

[wxmann_91]

(I fully expect a low 940s pressure from the NOAA plane)

You do?




Well, I do too.

[CrazyC83]

(I fully expect a low 940s pressure from the NOAA plane)

You do?




Well, I do too.

Yeah, probably I was wrong with the 110 kt after seeing the 2 pm advisory (I just got back) - I'd say 120 kt right now.

[gotoman38]

the NOAA flight is a Doppler radar mission... so it mainl flies around the storm. It's data is used to initialize HWRF (didn't help the 12Z all that much though)

Doesn't "SFC to 10000 ft" mean it would be flying fixes? I thought the radar missions were 20000 ft +

FLIGHT TWO
A. 03/0000Z
B. NOAA2 0806A FELIX
C. 02/2000Z
D. 14.3N 72.9W
E. 02/2200Z TO 03/0200Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

[WindRunner]

the NOAA flight is a Doppler radar mission... so it mainl flies around the storm. It's data is used to initialize HWRF (didn't help the 12Z all that much though)

Doesn't "SFC to 10000 ft" mean it would be flying fixes? I thought the radar missions were 20000 ft +

FLIGHT TWO
A. 03/0000Z
B. NOAA2 0806A FELIX
C. 02/2000Z
D. 14.3N 72.9W
E. 02/2200Z TO 03/0200Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

Not necessarily . . . there really isn't much to view via radar above 20,000 feet . . . most of the storm is going to be under 50,00 feet and so flying at 20,000 would miss out on the lower levels completely, while flying lower would allow for a more complete and useful data collection.

[MiamiensisWx]

Here's a question: are they utilizing a different plane? The top line (left corner) shows a "NOAA2" headline, unlike the previous recent mission (NOAA3). Which plane are they using for this mission? Additionally, the data sets have been reaching ground-level stations at 20-minute increments; data streamed at ten-minute increments during the last mission. There is a larger "gap" between obs. Obviously, the plane always takes live data, but the gap is larger than the previous mission. Can anyone answer these questions?

[WindRunner]

For the time increments, recon flights send sets of obs in 20-set groupings . . . however, as they are allowed to do, the data sets are only being collected every 60 seconds instead of the ever-so-common and preferred 30-sec interval . . . hence data collected half as often, data trasmitted half as often.

The header indicates that this is a different kind of plane . . . but I don't know which is which. Definately not one of the Gulfstreams, though, not at this altitude . . .

[pojo]

Here's a question: are they utilizing a different plane? The top line (left corner) shows a "NOAA2" headline, unlike the previous recent mission (NOAA3). Which plane are they using for this mission? Additionally, the data sets have been reaching ground-level stations at 20-minute increments; data streamed at ten-minute increments during the last mission. There is a larger "gap" between obs. Obviously, the plane always takes live data, but the gap is larger than the previous mission. Can anyone answer these questions?

NOAA2 & NOAA3 are P3 Orion Aircraft... both of which are in St. Croix.

[thunderchief]

NOAA has a couple P3s in addition to its GIV. Im sure its one of them.

[WindRunner]

Here's a question: are they utilizing a different plane? The top line (left corner) shows a "NOAA2" headline, unlike the previous recent mission (NOAA3). Which plane are they using for this mission? Additionally, the data sets have been reaching ground-level stations at 20-minute increments; data streamed at ten-minute increments during the last mission. There is a larger "gap" between obs. Obviously, the plane always takes live data, but the gap is larger than the previous mission. Can anyone answer these questions?

NOAA2 & NOAA3 are P3 Orion Aircraft... both of which are in St. Croix.

Thought it would be one of the P3s, but couldn't say for sure. I take it the Gulfstreams are the higher-numbered NOAA planes?

[Derek Ortt]

9 is the G-IV (or n when accessing the full dropsonde files afterward)