CalWater 2 Early Start G-IV Flights “AR Experiment” 3 – 25 Feb 2014

CalWater 2 Early Start G-IV Flights “AR Experiment” 3 – 25 Feb 2014 Ryan Spackman (STC/ESRL), Marty Ralph (Scripps), Chris Fairall(ESRL), Allen White (ESRL), Janet Intrieri (ESRL)

Science Highlights • Science Priority – Evolution and Structure of ARs • Targets: • 2 major landfalling AR events along West Coast • Tropical Moisture Export (TMEs) events from Hawaii • Poleward developing AR between Hawaii and Alaska • Occluded front in Gulf of AK and midlatitude offshore AR between Hawaii and CA GFS Analysis 5 - 10 Feb 2014

Science Highlights • Science Priority – Evolution and Structure of ARs • Targets: • 2 major landfalling AR events along West Coast • Tropical Moisture Export (TMEs) events from Hawaii • Poleward developing AR between Hawaii and Alaska • Occluded front in Gulf of AK and midlatitude offshore AR between Hawaii and CA GFS Analysis 5 - 10 Feb 2014 Developing ARs and Extratropical Cyclone Flights 21-22 Feb Landfalling ARs 8 Research Flights 7-15, 24 Feb Tropical Moisture Export Events 18-19 Feb

Science Highlights • Science Priority – Evolution and Structure of ARs • Targets: • 2 major landfalling AR events along West Coast • Tropical Moisture Export (TMEs) events from Hawaii • Poleward developing AR between Hawaii and Alaska • Occluded front in Gulf of AK and midlatitude offshore AR between Hawaii and CA 7-Day Observed Precipitation 8 - 14 Feb 2014

Forecast Improvements? – CrIS and ATMS Flight Plan, 8 Feb 2014 AR Mesoscale Frontal Wave • Item 1: AR landfalling forecast errors are large (500 km at 5 days, 200 km at 1 day from Wick et al. 2013) • ➤ Preliminary analysis suggests retrievals from CrIS and ATMS could improve landfalling forecasts Dropsondes GFSIntegrated Vapor Transport Init 6Z 8 Feb, Valid 21Z 8 Feb AR Developing on 21 Feb • Item 2: Vertical structure of water vapor in ARs is crucial to getting integrated vapor transport correct • ➤ Numerous discrepancies between model and dropsonde data were observed in vertical profiles of water vapor across ARs

NOAA G-IV Payload • Dropsondes – T, P, RH, wind speed and direction • Tail Doppler Radar (TDR) – Reflectivity and wind field • SFMR (Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer) – Surface winds and rain rate • G-IV in Anchorage, Feb 2014

Flight Operations • 12 research flights + 3 ferry flights (no science) for total of ~94 flight hr • 190 sondes + 7 IR test sondes deployed with: • 75% of project sondes released in first 7 research flights due to prime atmospheric river (AR) science opportunities from NorCA • Focus on precipitation regions near associated with ARs near Hawaii/Alaska on last 5 research flights to take advantage of TDR capabilities Final approach into Travis after AR Box Module Flight 11 Feb 2014 NOAA G-IV on the ramp at Anchorage before Flight into Gulf of AK 22 Feb 2014 Final approach into Honolulu after Kona Low Flight 19 Feb 2014

Flight Operations • Research Flight 2 – • Mesoscale Frontal Wave, 8 Feb 2014 7-Day Observed Precipitation 8 - 14 Feb 2014 • Research Flight 12 – Midlatitude AR, 24 Feb 2014

Flight Operations • Base of Operations: • Travis AFB (Primary): 7 research flights • Honolulu: 3 research flights (including science ferry to ANC) • Anchorage: 2 research flights (including science ferry to TAFB) Final approach into Travis after AR Box Module Flight 11 Feb 2014 NOAA G-IV on the ramp at Anchorage before Flight into Gulf of AK 22 Feb 2014 Final approach into Honolulu after Kona Low Flight 19 Feb 2014

Flight Operations • Flight Planning: • AR box modules • IVT stacked flight modules • Mesoscale frontal wave transects • TDR modules • AR transects • 2 stacked flights in coastal FIR were conducted with flight levels above and below the icing layer to evaluate TDR performance Research Flight 4 – IVT 2-Layer Stacked Module 12 Feb 2014

Flight Operations • Staffing: • PI– Chris Fairall • Mission Scientists – Ralph (7 flights) and Spackman (5 flights) • Onboard Scientists – White (3 flights) and Intrieri (1 flight) • Guest Scientists – David Reynolds (NWS Monterey), Jay Jasperse (SCWA), Gary Barnes (U of HI), U of HI graduate students • Lead Forecaster – Cordeira

Research Flight Summary RF01 – RF12 7 – 24 Feb 2014

Research Flight Summary

Enhanced vapor flux in Atmos. river Warm, Humid cold air 400 km RF06 – IVT Module, 3-Level Stacked Flight TAFB, 4.1 h, 4 drops, 14 Feb 2014 • Plan • Execution Dropsonde leg: 1000 km Start: FL410 FL150; T < -12C AR core End: FL060 Adapted from F. M. Ralph (Scripps)

RF06 – IVT Module, 3-Level Stacked Flight TAFB, 4.1 h, 4 drops, 14 Feb 2014 1915-1954 Z: FL410 Reflectivity

RF06 – IVT Module, 3-Level Stacked Flight TAFB, 4.1 h, 4 drops, 14 Feb 2014 1915-1954 Z: FL410 North-south vertical cross-section of a east-west-wind-component analysis approximately along the flight track

RF06 – IVT Module, 3-Level Stacked Flight TAFB, 4.1 h, 4 drops, 14 Feb 2014 2058-2117 Z: ~FL200 Higher-resolution vertical cross section of reflectivity

RF10 – Poleward Developing AR Science Ferry from HNL to ANC, 7.9 h, 14 drops, 21 Feb 2014 F+24 h valid for Friday valid 00Z 22 Feb 2014

RF10 – Poleward Developing AR Science Ferry from HNL to ANC, 7.9 h, 14 drops, 21 Feb 2014 Way point determinations: NCEP – GFS Init 0600 UTC 21 Feb 2014 F+18 h valid for Friday valid 00Z 22 Feb 2014

RF10 – Poleward Developing AR Science Ferry from HNL to ANC, 7.9 h, 14 drops, 21 Feb 2014 21 Feb 18 UTC

CalWater 2 Early Start G-IV Flights “AR Experiment” 3 – 25 Feb 2014