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Sea Breeze The Invisible Tsunami

Sea Breeze The Invisible Tsunami. For the area of NJ & Southeastern PA By Todd Nixon. The Objective. To provide you an understanding of how NJ sea breezes pose a significant hazard to hot air balloon ride operations in NJ and southeastern PA. Typical Sunset Balloon Flight Path.

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Sea Breeze The Invisible Tsunami

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  1. Sea BreezeThe Invisible Tsunami For the area of NJ & Southeastern PA By Todd Nixon

  2. The Objective To provide you an understanding of how NJ sea breezes pose a significant hazard to hot air balloon ride operations in NJ and southeastern PA.

  3. Typical Sunset Balloon Flight Path Flight Path - May 31, 2006 - Pilot: Todd Nixon

  4. The Problem Sea breezes are a significant weather event to balloonists because: • The landing speeds are increased. • The landing approaches may be in turbulence. • Our options to reduce hazardous landings are very limited.

  5. The Solution Balloon pilots need to: • Understand the sea breeze process and its many variations. • Learn to forecast & track sea breezes for ourselves. • Learn to estimate sea breeze strengths and penetration distances. • Know when to cancel the flight.

  6. My Sea Breeze Experiences In Ballooning: • As chase crew: • Pre-launch near miss • Run, trip & drag • As a pilot: • May 25 & August17, 2004 • May 28, 2006

  7. A Balloon Flight Affected By A Sea Breeze Flight Path - June 8, 2002 - Pilot: W. Barry Nixon

  8. A Balloon Flight Affected By A Sea Breeze Flight Path – August 17, 2004 - Pilot: Todd Nixon

  9. Flying In A Sea Breeze Altitude Speed Bearing 8/17/2004 18:59:23 565 ft 241 ft 00:01:05 2.5 mph 277° true 8/17/2004 19:05:09 1253 ft 266 ft 00:00:25 7.2 mph 318° true 8/17/2004 19:15:22 485 ft 262 ft 00:00:40 4.5 mph 291° true 8/17/2004 19:26:09 846 ft 278 ft 00:00:24 7.9 mph 315° true 8/17/2004 19:31:28 843 ft 285 ft 00:00:22 8.8 mph 305° true 8/17/2004 19:35:10 843 ft 263 ft 00:00:20 9.0 mph 313° true 8/17/2004 19:43:53 833 ft 280 ft 00:00:21 9.1 mph 310° true 8/17/2004 19:56:28 552 ft 266 ft 00:00:31 5.9 mph 304° true 8/17/2004 19:59:44 656 ft 265 ft 00:00:14 12.9 mph 326° true 8/17/2004 20:00:00 600 ft 247 ft 00:00:16 10.5 mph 305° true 8/17/2004 20:00:19 538 ft 257 ft 00:00:19 9.2 mph 305° true 8/17/2004 20:00:56 508 ft 145 ft 00:00:37 2.7 mph 296° true 8/17/2004 20:02:24 494 ft 263 ft 00:01:28 2.0 mph 295° true 8/17/2004 20:03:31 474 ft 260 ft 00:01:07 2.6 mph 293° true 8/17/2004 20:04:36 450 ft 266 ft 00:01:05 2.8 mph 310° true 8/17/2004 20:05:30 436 ft 271 ft 00:00:54 3.4 mph 312° true 8/17/2004 20:10:07 422 ft 153 ft 00:04:37 0.4 mph 14° true

  10. A Balloon Flight Affected By A Sea Breeze Flight Path - May 28, 2006 - Pilot: Todd Nixon

  11. Flying In A Sea Breeze Altitude Speed Bearing 5/28/2006 18:45:46 764 ft 153 ft 00:00:30 3.5 mph 337° true 5/28/2006 18:49:40 511 ft 152 ft 00:00:27 3.8 mph 308° true 5/28/2006 18:56:25 702 ft 144 ft 00:00:22 4.5 mph 315° true 5/28/2006 19:12:50 511 ft 158 ft 00:00:24 4.5 mph 340° true 5/28/2006 19:20:17 410 ft 167 ft 00:00:26 4.4 mph 323° true 5/28/2006 19:27:14 562 ft 154 ft 00:00:19 5.5 mph 324° true 5/28/2006 19:32:44 806 ft 167 ft 00:00:14 8.1 mph 328° true 5/28/2006 19:37:44 582 ft 163 ft 00:00:27 4.1 mph 336° true 5/28/2006 19:39:46 731 ft 168 ft 00:00:14 8.2 mph 348° true 5/28/2006 19:41:17 581 ft 163 ft 00:00:15 7.4 mph 336° true 5/28/2006 19:49:28 611 ft 164 ft 00:00:16 7.0 mph 343° true 5/28/2006 19:52:48 768 ft 163 ft 00:00:12 9.2 mph 336° true 5/28/2006 19:53:00 767 ft 168 ft 00:00:12 9.5 mph 332° true 5/28/2006 19:53:11 748 ft 158 ft 00:00:11 9.8 mph 333° true 5/28/2006 19:53:22 726 ft 165 ft 00:00:11 10.2 mph 334° true 5/28/2006 19:53:33 694 ft 161 ft 00:00:11 10.0 mph 331° true 5/28/2006 19:53:45 679 ft 160 ft 00:00:12 9.1 mph 326° true 5/28/2006 19:53:58 661 ft 167 ft 00:00:13 8.8 mph 328° true 5/28/2006 19:54:11 631 ft 167 ft 00:00:13 8.8 mph 328° true 5/28/2006 19:54:25 598 ft 160 ft 00:00:14 7.8 mph 326° true 5/28/2006 19:54:40 584 ft 164 ft 00:00:15 7.5 mph 329° true 5/28/2006 19:54:58 543 ft 154 ft 00:00:18 5.8 mph 316° true 5/28/2006 19:55:20 510 ft 158 ft 00:00:22 4.9 mph 323° true 5/28/2006 19:56:37 497 ft 124 ft 00:01:17 1.1 mph 300° true

  12. Flying In A Sea Breeze Your two choices if caught up in a sea breeze: • Ride out the sea breeze front: • Could be a long distance flight. • Crew help doubtful. • Fly above the sea breeze current: • The current may slow towards sunset. • Target a preferred landing site. • Coordinate a landing approach with your crew.

  13. Flying In A Sea Breeze Flight Path - May 25, 2004 - Pilot: Todd Nixon

  14. Flying In A Sea Breeze 3D Flight Path - May 25, 2004 - Pilot: Todd Nixon - Image created by Keith Sproul

  15. Flying In A Sea Breeze Synoptic flow above sea breeze Top of sea breeze Main feed currents Calmair Land surface Sea breeze front Rotor Surface obstructions create resistance

  16. Flying In A Sea Breeze

  17. Flying In A Sea Breeze Flight characteristics vary with each sea breeze: • The strongest current in a sea breeze is typically between 500 to 1200 feet AGL • Strong sea breezes will have significant turbulence at the surface and usually advance quickly • Even slow moving sea breeze fronts can still have significant turbulence • Weak or dissipating sea breezes can become a gentle wind shift or even decouple from the surface and go unnoticed

  18. Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking Methods • NEXRAD - Doppler radar • Visual satellite images • Surface weather observations

  19. Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking Image loop from Intellicast.com

  20. Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking Image loop from Intellicast.com

  21. Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking Image loop from Intellicast.com

  22. Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking Image loop from Intellicast.com

  23. Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking

  24. Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking Image source: WeatherBug

  25. A Typical Balloon Flight With An Afternoon River Breeze Flight Path - June 23, 2002 - Pilot: Todd Nixon

  26. Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking Image from Unisys Corp.

  27. Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking Image from NWS

  28. Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking Image from Unisys Corp.

  29. Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking Image from Weather Underground

  30. Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking Image loop from Intellicast.com

  31. Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking Image loop from Intellicast.com

  32. Closing Remarks • Sea breezes and other onshore breezes are a dynamic weather event. • Onshore breeze analysis is time consuming. • Predicting sea breeze penetration distances is challenging. • Internet access is vital to the success of my detection and tracking methods.

  33. Closing Remarks • Wireless Internet access is a great asset on the launch site with an approaching sea breeze. • Sea breeze spotters are second best to wireless Internet and a great asset while piloting a balloon. • It would be very helpful if more information about onshore breezes could be included in the afternoon forecast discussions from local NWS offices.

  34. Acknowledgements Sea breeze information provided by James Eberwine National Weather Service – Mt. Holly Sea breeze research data provided by Louis Bowers of

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