ATL: DEBBY - Recon

[jlauderdal]

AL, 97, 2024080112, , BEST, 0, 195N, 705W, 20, 1013, DB

https://ftp.nhc.noaa.gov/atcf/btk/bal972024.dat

Time to send in the squadron for a closer look.

[cycloneye]

Hey my friend jlauderdal . Splited your post from the 97L discussion thread to create the recon thread.

First mission will be on Friday, unless there are changes.

A. POSSIBLE SYSTEM SURVEY MISSION INTO SUSPECT AREA NEAR
22.5N 74.0W FOR 02/1800Z.
B. POSSIBLE NOAA P-3 TAIL DOPPLER RADAR MISSIONS INTO SUSPECT
AREA NEAR 23.0N 75.0W FOR 03/0000Z, DEPARTING KLAL AT
02/2000Z, AND THEN NEAR 25.0N 76.5W FOR 03/1200Z, DEPARTING
KLAL AT 03/0800Z.

[cycloneye]

Here is todays TCPOD and jlauderdal, it will be tommorow afternoon.

NOUS42 KNHC 011620
REPRPD
WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
1220 PM EDT THU 01 AUGUST 2024
SUBJECT: TROPICAL CYCLONE PLAN OF THE DAY (TCPOD)
VALID 02/1100Z TO 03/1100Z AUGUST 2024
TCPOD NUMBER.....24-062

I. ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
1. SUSPECT AREA (NORTHEAST OF CUBA - AL97)
FLIGHT ONE - NOAA 43
A. 02/1800Z
B. NOAA3 01FFA SURVEY
C. 02/1430Z
D. 21.8N 77.0W
E. 02/1530Z TO 02/2030Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT
G. SYSTEM SURVEY
H. WRA ACTIVATION

2. OUTLOOK FOR SUCCEEDING DAY:
A. POSSIBLE LOW LEVEL INVEST MISSION INTO AL97 NEAR
23.5N 82.5W FOR 03/1800Z.
B. POSSIBLE NOAA P-3 TAIL DOPPLER RADAR MISSION INTO AL97
NEAR 27.0N 84.0W FOR 04/1200Z, DEPARTING KLAL AT
04/0800Z.

[cycloneye]

Plenty of missions upcomming from this afternoon thru Sunday.

WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
1215 PM EDT FRI 02 AUGUST 2024
SUBJECT: TROPICAL CYCLONE PLAN OF THE DAY (TCPOD)
VALID 03/1100Z TO 04/1100Z AUGUST 2024
TCPOD NUMBER.....24-063

I. ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
1. POTENTIAL TROPICAL CYCLONE FOUR
FLIGHT ONE - TEAL 71 FLIGHT TWO - NOAA 43
A. 03/1800Z A. 04/0000Z
B. AFXXX 0204A INVEST B. NOAA3 0304A CYCLONE
C. 03/1600Z C. 03/2030Z
D. 24.2N 81.5W D. 25.1N 82.3W
E. 03/1730Z TO 03/2230Z E. 03/2100Z TO 04/0200Z
F. SFC TO 15,000 FT F. SFC TO 15,000 FT
G. LOW-LEVEL INVEST G. TAIL DOPPLER RADAR
H. WRA ACTIVATION H. WRA ACTIVATION

FLIGHT THREE - NOAA 42 FLIGHT FOUR - TEAL 72
A. 04/1200Z A. 04/1130Z,1730Z
B. NOAA2 0404A CYCLONE B. AFXXX 0504A CYCLONE
C. 04/0900Z C. 04/1000Z
D. 27.2N 83.0W D. 27.1N 83.0W
E. 04/0930Z TO 04/1500Z E. 04/1100Z TO 04/1730Z
F. SFC TO 15,000 FT F. SFC TO 15,000 FT
G. TAIL DOPPLER RADAR G. FIX
H. WRA ACTIVATION H. WRA ACTIVATION

2. OUTLOOK FOR SUCCEEDING DAY:
A. CONTINUE 6-HRLY FIXES IF SYSTEM DEVELOPS AND REMAINS A
THREAT.
B. NOAA 43 P-3 TAIL DOPPLER RADAR MISSION INTO PTC 4 FOR
05/0000Z, DEPARTING KLAL AT 04/2100Z.

[cycloneye]

[cycloneye]

[cycloneye]

[cycloneye]

This was a survey mission and not a fix for a center. Those will begin on saturday at noon.

[AnnularCane]

Why not a fix for a center? Is it not developed enough for that?

And what exactly is a survey mission?

[cycloneye]

Why not a fix for a center? Is it not developed enough for that?

And what exactly is a survey mission?

I leave the meaning of it to our friend that knows all about the squadron Chris in Tampa.

[cycloneye]

NOAA plane will be also flying this evening.

NOUS42 KNHC 031621
REPRPD
WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
1220 PM EDT SAT 03 AUGUST 2024
SUBJECT: TROPICAL CYCLONE PLAN OF THE DAY (TCPOD)
VALID 04/1100Z TO 05/1100Z AUGUST 2024
TCPOD NUMBER.....24-064 CORRECTION

I. ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
1. TROPICAL DEPRESSION FOUR
FLIGHT ONE - NOAA 43 FLIGHT TWO - TEAL 73
A. 05/0000Z A. 04/2330Z,05/0230Z,0530Z
B. NOAA3 0604A CYCLONE B. AFXXX 0704A CYCLONE
C. 04/2100Z C. 04/2215Z
D. 28.2N 84.3W D. 28.1N 84.3W
E. 04/2130Z TO 05/0230Z E. 04/2300Z TO 05/0530Z
F. SFC TO 15,000 FT F. SFC TO 15,000 FT
G. TAIL DOPPLER RADAR G. FIX
H. WRA ACTIVATION H. WRA ACTIVATION

FLIGHT THREE - TEAL 71
A. 05/0830Z,1130Z,1430Z
B. AFXXX 0804A CYCLONE
C. 05/0715Z
D. 29.5N 83.9W
E. 05/0800Z TO 05/1430Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT (CORRECTION)
G. FIX
H. WRA ACTIVATION

2. OUTLOOK FOR SUCCEEDING DAY.....NEGATIVE.

3. REMARK: THE TEAL 71 MISSION TASKED IN TCPOD 24-063 HAS BEEN
CHANGED TO A 04/0000Z FIX MISSION WITH AN ADJUSTED TAKEOFF
TIME OF 03/2200Z.

[Chris_in_Tampa]

Why not a fix for a center? Is it not developed enough for that?

And what exactly is a survey mission?

I leave the meaning of it to our friend that knows all about the squadron Chris in Tampa.

Since the center was likely going to be either over land or just off Cuba, I would say those are likely the reasons they were not tasked to find the center. They fly survey missions at 5,000 feet or perhaps below rather than the around 1,500 feet generally of an investigative mission. I had to look that up too. You can't fly over land at that low altitude. It's dangerous. They want to look for surface centers over water.

They had coordinates of 21.8N 77.0W listed in the Plan of the Day, which would be offshore of Cuba.

Flying around or over Cuba is something that likely requires more permissions.

A line about "pre-mission coordination procedures" says (PDF page 73):

"Overseeing the process of obtaining advance overflight clearances for 53 WRS aircraft that
will be operating over or within the sovereign airspace of Mexico and Cuba."

They need to coordinate that for NOAA and the Air Force. NOAA flies in Mexico and as of last year an older page said they could have used La Paz as an operating base. I don't recall if NOAA missions have gone over Cuba, but whoever does it, need to make sure that proper clearances are very much in order, especially for the American Air Force to fly over Cuba I would imagine.

NHOP also goes over the "Lawnmower pattern", a suggested pattern for a survey mission. That's the pattern they did.

For an invest mission surface winds are preferred in finding the center. For a survey mission, it is specifically mentioned that it can be at flight level too.



From the National Hurricane Operations Plan (NHOP):

5.7.3. System Survey Missions.

A system survey mission is tasked to supply observations on the structure and characteristics of
an existing tropical cyclone or a disturbance that has the potential to develop into a tropical or
subtropical cyclone, including information about the vortex center, if it exists.

5.7.3.1. Flight levels.

Flight level will normally be at or below 5,000 ft absolute altitude, but may be adjusted as
dictated by data requirements, meteorological conditions, or flying safety factors. Vertical
dropsonde observations may be requested based on customer needs.

5.7.3.2. Vortex Fix.

A vortex data message is required if a vortex fix is made.

5.7.3.3. Closed Circulation.

A closed circulation is supported by at least one sustained vector wind observation reported in
each quadrant of the cyclone. These winds may either be measured at flight level by the aircraft
or observed visually on the ocean surface.

5.7.3.4. Flight Pattern.

The preferred approach is to execute a pattern (for example, Figure 5-9) based on a reference
point specified by the customer as observed conditions dictate to sample the structure of the
system’s wind field. The flight track may be modified to satisfy customer requirements or
because of proximity to land or warning areas.

That's on PDF page 65 of 192. On either side of that page, there are the other types also described below.

5.7.2. Investigative Missions.

An investigative mission is tasked on tropical or subtropical disturbances to determine the
existence or non-existence of a closed circulation, supply reconnaissance observations in
required areas, and locate the vortex center, if any.

5.7.2.1. Flight Levels.

Flight level will normally be at or below 1,500 ft absolute altitude but may be adjusted as
dictated by data requirements, meteorological conditions, or flying safety factors.

5.7.2.2. Vortex Fix.

A vortex data message is required if a vortex fix is made.

5.7.2.3. Closed Circulation.

A closed circulation is supported by at least one sustained vector wind observation reported in
each quadrant of the cyclone. Surface winds are preferred.

5.7.2.4. Flight Pattern.

The preferred approach is to fly to the tasked coordinates of the forecasted center and then
execute a pattern as observed conditions dictate. Suggested patterns are the X, Box, or Delta
patterns, but the flight meteorologist may choose any approach. See Figure 5-8. Turns are
usually made to take advantage of tailwinds whenever possible. Note: The depicted pattern may
be converted to a mirror image if entry is made from a different direction.

• On the X pattern, the aircraft is turned to head directly towards the center, as indicated by
  the surface or flight level winds. The aircraft is flown through the calm center until winds
  from the opposite direction occur (second quadrant). The aircraft is then turned to a cardinal
  heading until a wind shift occurs (third quadrant). Finally, the aircraft is turned towards the
  center and flown straight through the center to the last quadrant.
  
• ● On the Box pattern, the aircraft is flown on cardinal headings around the suspected center.
  The track resembles three sides of a square.
  
• On the Delta pattern, the aircraft is flown on a cardinal heading to pass 60 nm from the
  forecasted center. After observing a wind shift (second quadrant) the aircraft is turned to
  pass through the center until winds from the opposite direction occur (third quadrant).
  Finally, the aircraft is turned on a cardinal heading (parallel to the initial heading) to pick up
  the fourth quadrant winds. If data indicate that the aircraft is far north of any existing
  circulation, the pattern is extended as shown by the dashed lines.

5.7.4. Synoptic Surveillance Missions.
A synoptic surveillance mission is tasked to measure the large-scale wind and thermodynamic
fields within approximately 800 nautical miles of tropical cyclones. Specific flight tracks will
vary depending on storm location and synoptic situation, and multiple aircraft may be required to
satisfy surveillance mission requirements.

[cycloneye]

Thanks Chris for posting about the survey missions.

There you have it AnnularCane

[cycloneye]

AF plane ready to depart.

[cycloneye]

[Nimbus]

Aircraft Position: 28.70°N 88.38°W
Bearing: 121° at 638 kt

638 knots what they running moon shine in those engines?

[cycloneye]

[cycloneye]

[cycloneye]

[Sciencerocks]

21
AF302 0204A DEBBY HDOB 11 20240803
231200 2705N 08550W 4466 06767 0367 -103 //// 291005 005 /// /// 05
231230 2703N 08548W 4463 06770 0367 -103 //// 301004 005 /// /// 05
231300 2700N 08547W 4466 06765 0366 -100 //// 289004 005 /// /// 05
231330 2658N 08545W 4464 06768 0366 -101 -107 271004 005 /// /// 03
231400 2656N 08544W 4464 06769 0367 -100 -109 258003 005 /// /// 03
231430 2653N 08542W 4466 06766 0368 -100 -117 257003 005 /// /// 03
231500 2651N 08540W 4464 06770 0368 -104 //// 292000 003 /// /// 05
231530 2649N 08539W 4464 06769 0367 -105 //// 217001 002 /// /// 05
231600 2646N 08537W 4464 06768 0366 -099 //// 300002 003 /// /// 05
231630 2644N 08536W 4464 06765 0365 -097 //// 286003 004 /// /// 05
231700 2642N 08534W 4464 06766 0365 -094 //// 253005 006 /// /// 05
231730 2640N 08532W 4466 06761 0364 -096 //// 258006 006 /// /// 05
231800 2637N 08531W 4462 06771 0365 -095 //// 243005 006 /// /// 05
231830 2635N 08529W 4464 06764 0363 -092 //// 268005 006 /// /// 05
231900 2633N 08528W 4466 06761 0363 -087 -096 281006 006 /// /// 03
231930 2630N 08526W 4468 06755 0361 -080 -121 284007 007 /// /// 03
232000 2628N 08525W 4467 06756 0360 -082 -103 282005 006 /// /// 03
232030 2626N 08523W 4466 06759 0359 -088 -098 319004 006 /// /// 03
232100 2624N 08522W 4466 06759 0359 -090 -093 333004 004 /// /// 03
232130 2623N 08521W 4464 06760 0358 -090 -095 333004 004 /// /// 03
$$
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