Day 094 Met Page

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April 04 00Z Radiosonde temperature humidity
April 04 00Z Radiosonde winds

April 04 03Z Radiosonde temperature humidity (Launched 01:45 UTC)
April 04 03Z Radiosonde winds

Afternoon AVHRR
noaa-16 ch2 at  0449 (1349 local)
noaa-16 ch5 (thermal IR) at 0449

Nighttime AVHRR
noaa 14  at 2000 (0500 LT)

From the OPS Center
 

The weather depiction for Wednesday, April 5 at 0300 UTC, Image 1, indicates
that the high pressure center following the front which passed Japan
on the 3rd will have moved south of 35 N to approximately 133 E and is expected
to continue to move toward the east, with no intensification. This
will bring continued cloud-free conditions to much of the area. The anticyclonic
flow will reduce the continental outflow influence, but flow across
southern Korea will bring aerosol-rich air to the vicinity of 35 N, 135 E, and a
flight of the Twin Otter to that area is being planned. Further north the
surface trough of low pressure north of 38 N and east of 125 E will move toward
the NE and will be accompanied by clouds even as a strong
anticyclone moves southeastward from north of 45 N.

Winds will weaken along the planned track of the R/V Ron Brown over the next 48
hours. At 1200 UTC on the 4th, ENE at 5-8 ms-1; at 0000
UTC on the 5th, variable at 5 ms-1; at 1200 UTC on the 5th, continued variable
at 5 ms-1; by 0000 UTC on the 6th, N at 5 ms-1; by 1200 UTC
on the 6th, ENE at 8-10 ms-1.

At Cheju the prediction is for light and variable winds through 1200 UTC on the
5th; at 0000 UTC on the 6th, from the NE at 5-8 ms-1; and at
1200 UTC on the 6th, ENE at 5-8 ms-1.

DISCUSSION

The expected situation on Friday, April 6 is shown in Image 2. High pressure
will continue to dominate the region. Nevertheless the chemical
transport model results indicate an aerosol plume extending offshore over the
Yellow Sea, and a flight track for the C-130 is being planned for this
area which includes coordinated observations with the KOSAN site. South of 33 N
a growing disturbance is predicted to pass off the coast of China
at about 1200 UTC on the 6th. If this disturbance, and a similar one which will
follow it 24-36 hours later, develop and propagate as far offshore as
the model results suggest, they will bring clouds, rain and increased low-level
winds to the area SW of Japan and perhaps to the Iwakuni area by late
Saturday, April 7.

We plan to add to the weather depictions a wind barb for the KOSAN and R/V Ron
Brown locations, indicating the expected wind there at the
forecast time. Also, we are working with the chemical transport modelers to
indicate major aerosol optical depth features as predicted by the
models.

SUMMARY

Conditions appear favorable for the planned flight of the Twin Otter on
Thursday, April 5 and of the C-130 on Friday, April 4.

Over the longer term, conditions are favorable for significant dust storms in
the arid regions of China, especially after Friday the 6th.
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Operations summary

Ron Brown collecting data at 30 30-40N, 131 30E beginning 0200 UTC with
Terra/MISR over pass and continuing through C-130 coordination
until approx 0800 UTC.

C-130 took off at 0000 UTC for a radiation closure flight in the southern Sea of
Japan, followed by coordinated measurements with the Ron Brown
in the vicinity of 30 40N, 131 30E.

Twin Otter took off at 0000 UTC for a radiation closure flight in Southern Sea
of Japan, north of Iwakuni.

MISSION PLANS:

PRIMARY MISSION for 4/5:
Twin Otter will conduct radiation column closure flight over Sea of Japan
north of Iwakuni.

C-130, NO MISSION PLANNED.