Afternoon AVHRR and SeaWiFS
OverNight Satellite Pictures (from the night of 107)
noaa-14 at 2021
From the OPS Center
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I dropped the Shanghai plume products as it is blowing north away
from you and won't be an issue for you as you head east. I thought
I would continue the volcano tracer forecast if that will help you
locate the plumes for sampling. I did check the wave height forecast
and they are predicting up to 12 foot waves along the southern coast
of Japan behind the storm. Look for a rough journey back to the barn!
GENERAL Met OVERVIEW
The meteorological situation as
it is expected to be at 0000 UTC on Thursday,
April 19 is shown in the 24 hour forecast chart. The cloud band and
frontal zone
extending from west of the Bohai Sea along the northeast coast of China
will
encompass areas of drizzle, rain and snow showers, but will remain
outside our
operational area during this period. The area of clouds and rain south
of 30 N
will remain active over China, but east of 125 E will be under the
influence of
a weak anticyclone and relatively clear areas will extend south of
30 N.
The expected situation for 0000 UTC on Friday, April 20 is
shown in the 48 hour
map. The frontal boundary will lie along the central island of Japan
near 36 N,
with rainfall most probable between Japan and Korea but clouds extending
further
north west of 130 E. Clouds and rain will remain prevalent in the vicinity
of
Cheju.There will be an area of clear to scattered clouds south of Kyushu
under
the influence of a weak anticyclone near 135 E.
For the ship these are the expected winds:
for the 18th, 1200 UTC, N at 12-15 ms-1;
for 0000 UTC on the 19th, NE at 15-18 ms-1;
for 1200 UTC on the 19th, N-NE at 10-12 ms-1;
for 0000 UTC on the 20th, N 5-8 ms-1; and
for 1200 UTC on the 20th, variable near 5 ms-1 heading in port.
For the area of Cheju, at 1200 UTC on the 18th, N at < 5 ms-1; at
0000 UTC
on the 19th, NW at 5-8 ms-1; for 1200 UTC on the 19th, SW at 8-10 ms-1
- pre-frontal;
for 0000 on the 20th, NE 8-10 ms-1 - post-frontal; and for 1200 UTC
on the 20th,
NE at 12-15 ms-1.
DISCUSSION
As the flight plan for the C-130 for Thursday extends to the north of
39 N along
135 E the concern remains whether clouds could encroach as the frontal
system to
the northwest appraoches. This will be reviewed and an update will
be provided
at the pre-flight briefing at 2200 UTC.
After Friday the weather will remain disturbed in the area east of approximately
125 E north of 30 N, including southernmost Korea and southwest Japan.
Th
Yellow Sea area may open up during this time, and and this will be
monitored
carefully in later forecasts.
Ops SUMMARY
The conditions look favorable for Twin Otter and C-130 flights to the
north of
Japan on Thurs day. The prospects for flights south of Japan, including
coordinated observations by the C-130 at Amami, are less certain.
The Ron Brown is positioned at 31 15N, 131 30E for coordinated measurements
this
afternoon with the King Air. The C-130 took off at 0000 UTC (0900 JLT)
to conduct
an aerosol gradient mission in the Yellow Sea ending with a wall pattern
and
intercomparison near the Kosan site. No Twin Otter flight today.
King Air planning a possible intercomparison flight with the Ron Brown,
vicinity
of 31 15N, 131 30E.
MISSION PLANS:
PRIMARY MISSION:
C-130 will conduct aerosol characterization
mission in the central Sea of
Japan.The Twin Otter will conduct radiation and chemistry measurements
in the
southern Sea of Japan north of Iwakuni.King Air will conduct post frontal
cloud
studies southeast of Kyushu.
TAKE OFF / LANDING TIMES:
Plane
Take-off Times(UTC)
Landing Times(UTC)
NCAR C-130
0001 UTC, 0901 JLT
0900 UTC
IRPAS Twin Otter 0000 UTC, 0900 JLT
0630 UTC
ARA King Air
0530 UTC
Pre-flight briefing times(UTC): 2200 UTC (4/18), 0700 JLT
AIRBORNE MISSION SCIENTIST NAMES:
NCAR C-130 : T.Clarke
CIRPAS Twin Otter : H. Jonsson
ARA King Air : J. Jensen
SHIP OPERATIONS:
After completing its coordinated measurements with the King Air, Ron
Brown will
steam northeastward to reach port in Yokosuka, Japan on Friday, 20
April.