Day 099 Met Page

Ship Downloads
 
 

April 09 00Z Radiosonde temperature humidity
April 09 00Z Radiosonde winds

April 09 03Z Radiosonde temperature humidity (Launched 01:45 UTC)
April 09 03Z Radiosonde winds

Afternoon AVHRR
noaa-16  ch2 (0.86 microns) at 0400 (1300 LT)
noaa-16  ch5 (thermal IR) at 040
 

Nighttime AVHRR (from the night of 098)
noaa-16 at 1815
noaa-12  at 2007
noaa-14  at 2049

From the OPS Center
 

GENERAL OVERVIEW

The weather depiction for 0000 UTC, Monday, April 9 is shown here. The low
pressure center near 45 N, 115 E will have its primay influence over
continental areas on Monday the 9th. The surface ridge line around 40 N, east of
130 E is the remnant of a persistent anticyclone which had a
significant influence on the southward penetration of aerosol plumes prior to
the 9th. Winds at the ship's location and in the area around Cheju will
become southerly and gradually increase in strength during this period. The weak
low pressure/frontal system SW of Japan will be surrounded by
clouds and some precipitation, particularly south of 34 N. Scattered to broken
middle and high level clouds north of Japan could limit radiation
measurements along the proposed track of the Twin Otter for Monday, April 9.

The situation at 0000 UTC on Tuesday, April 10 is shown here. The storm center
will be located near 50 N, 125 E. The dust, pollution and other
aerosols will spread over a wide range of latitudes, but the plumes will not be
easily accessible on this day. The winds in the vicinity of the ship will
have strengthened, and near Cheju will have shifted to the SE. Clouds and
precipitation are likely in the Cheju area during this time. These are likely to
cover an area which extends east of Iwakuni and as far north as 38 N over Korea.

The disturbance SW of Japan may develop a frontal system, and it
is expected that this would be stronger in the area south of the disturbance
than north of it.

The following winds are forecast for the vicinity of Cheju and for the ship's
location.
For Cheju at 1200 on April 8, E at 8-10 ms-1; at 0000 UTC on
the 9th, SE at 10-12 ms-1; at 1200 on the 9th, E at 10-13 ms-1; at 0000 UTC on
the 9th, E at 10-12 ms-1, shifting to reflect the approaching cold
front, ~ 0000-1200 UTC on the 10th; at 1200 on the 10th, SW 8-10 ms-1.

For the R/V Ron Brown,
at 1200 UTC on the 8th, S 5-8 ms-1;
at 0000 UTC on the 9th, SSE 5-8 ms-1;
at 1200 on the 9th, SE at 8-10 ms-1;
at 0000 UTC on the 10th, SE at 12-15 ms-1 with gusts to 20 ms-1; and
at 21200 UTC on the 10th, S at 12-16 ms-1.

DISCUSSION

The dust plumes being sampled by the C-130 today were generated by a strong
storm which passed over western China yesterday. Surface weather
reports indicating dust available on the ACE-Asia Catalog, here, indicate how
widespread and intense the dust-raising activity is.

It is likely that disturbances propagating alond and developing near the frontal
system crossing the Yellow Sea on April 10 will bring an extended area
of cloud cover and precipitation to the vicinity beginning late Tuesday. If, as
considered likely, the clouds and precipitation clear in the area west of
126 E by early in the day on Wednesday, and if the expected strong offshore flow
brings aerosol plumes to this aream an opportunity for a C-130
flight plan to that area will arise.

SUMMARY

Conditions appear adequate for the planned Twin Otter flight for Monday, April
9; it is possible that clouds could limit the radiation sampling in the
vicinity.

Operations  summary

Ron Brown collecting data at 38N, 133 30E beginning 0000 UTC.
Twin Otter took off at 0320 UTC for an aerosol characterization flight over the
Sea of Japan including an intercomparison with the Ron Brown.
C-130 took off at 0315 UTC for an aerosol characterization flight (dust event)
over the central Sea of Japan, with a possible intercomparison with the
Ron Brown.

MISSION PLANS:
PRIMARY MISSION:
Twin Otter will conduct an aerosol characterization flight over the Sea of
Japan with an intercomparison with the Ron Brown in the vicinity of
38N, 133 30E

No C-130 flight is planned.

TAKE OFF / LANDING TIMES:
       Plane         Take-off Times(UTC)     Landing Times(UTC)

CIRPAS Twin Otter     0000 UTC,                  0900 JLT

Pre-flight briefing times(UTC): 2200 UTC (4/8), 0700 JLT
Update times(UTC): N/A

SHIP OPERATIONS:
Ron Brown will remain in vicinity of current position 38N, 133 30E for
intercomparison measurements with the Twin Otter on Monday.