Source of Acquisition I NASA Mashall Space Flight Center Paper, Presentation, Short Abstract, & Extended Abstract: Overview of the Field Phase of the NASA Tropical Cloud Systems and Processes (TCSP) Experiment Authors: Robbie E. Hood, NASNMSFC, Huntsville, AL; E. Zipser, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah; G. M. Heymsfield, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland; R. Kakar, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC; J. Halverson, Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology, Greenbelt, Maryland; R. Rogers, NOAA Hurricane Research Division, Miami, FL; and M. Black, NOAA Hurricane Research Division, Miami, FL Conference: American Meteorological Society 27fhC onference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology Date & Location: April 24-28, 2006; Monterey, CA The Tropical Cloud Systems and Processes experiment is sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to investigate characteristics of tropical cyclone genesis, rapid intensification and rainfall using a three-pronged approach that emphasizes satellite information, suborbital observations and numerical model simulations. Research goals include demonstration and assessment of new technology, improvements to numerical model parameterizations, and advancements in data assimilation techniques. The field phase of the experiment was based in Costa Rica during July 2005. A fully instrumented NASA ER-2 high altitude airplane was deployed with Doppler radar, passive microwave instrumentation, lightning and electric field sensors and an airborne simulator of visible and infrared satellite sensors. Other assets brought to TCSP were a low flying uninhabited aerial vehicle, and a surface- based radiosonde network. In partnership with the Intensity Forecasting Experiment of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hurricane Research Division, two NOAA P-3 aircraft instrumented with radar, passive microwave, microphysical, and dropsonde instrumentation were also deployed to Costa Rica. The field phase of TCSP was conducted in Costa Rica to take advantage of the geographically compact tropical cyclone genesis region of the Eastern Pacific Ocean near Central America. However, the unusual 2005 hurricane season provided numerous opportunities to sample tropical cyclone development and intensification in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico as well. Development of Hurricane Dennis and Tropical Storm Gert were each investigated over several days in addition to Hurricane Emily as it was close to Saffir-Simpson Category 5 intensity. An overview of the characteristics of these storms along with the pre- genesis environment of Tropical Storm Eugene in the Eastern Pacific will be presented. lA.l OVERVJEW OF THE FIELD PHASE OF THE NASA TROPICAL CLOUD SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES (TCSP) EXPERIMENT Robbie E. Hood* NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama Edward Zipser University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah Gerald M. Heymsfield NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland Ramesh Kakar NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC Jeffery Halverson Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology, Greenbelt, Maryland Robert Rogers and Michael Black NOAA Hurricane Research Division, Miami, Florida 1. INTRODUCTION NOAA Intensity Forecasting Experiment (IFEX) Although many who reside in the countries which were conducted in collaboration from a base bordered by the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of in San Jose, Costa Rica during July 2005. The Mexico can never be truly compensated for the TCSP experiment was planned by NASA to heartbreaking losses they suffered during the investigate characteristics of tropical cyclone highly active 2005 hurricane season, one glimmer genesis, rapid intensification and rainfall using a of hope for the future is that the numerous tropical three-pronged approach that emphasizes satellite cyclones which occurred during this season were information, suborbital observations and numerical extensively studied during three Federally funded model simulations. Research goals include aircraft field experiments. The National demonstration and assessment of new Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), technology, improvements to numerical model The National Oceanic and Atmospheric parameterizations, and advancements in data Administration (NOAA), and the National Science assimilation techniques. The goals of the NOAA Foundation (NSF) each sponsored research IFEX are described in Rogers et al. 2006 of this experiments which used aircraft, satellite, oceanic conference. sensors, and research models to collect an The field phase of the experiment was based extensive body of information that will assist in in Costa Rica during July 2005. A fully improving the understanding and predictability of instrumented NASA ER-2 high altitude airplane future tropical cyclones. was deployed with Doppler radar, passive microwave instrumentation, lightning and electric 2. EXPERIMENT DESCRIPTION field sensors and an airborne simulator of visible The unusually early start of the 2005 Atlantic and infrared satellite sensors. The sensor names hurricane season was jointly captured by the and observations of the ER-2 instrument payload NASA Tropical Cloud Systems and Processes are depicted in Fig. 1. Other TCSP assets (TCSP) Experiment and the initial phase of the included near real-time satellite imagery and products, a low flying uninhabited aerial vehicle to sample the eastern Pacific boundary layer during * Corresponding author address: Robbie E. Hood, both pre-genesis and inactive phases of TCSP, NASAiMarshallS pace Flight Centec Code: VP61, and a surface-based radiosonde network releasing 320 Sparkman Dr., Huntsville, AL 35805 six-hourly GPS radiosondes from Juan E-mail: Robbie.H [email protected] ov. Santamaria International Airport to support scientific and aircraft operations. Costa Rican Sea and Gulf of Mexico as well. Development of scientists and forecasters familiar with local Hurricane Dennis and Tropical Storm Gert were weather also contributed to the TCSP weather each investigated over several days in addition to forecasting and mission planning activities. Hurricane Emily as it intensified to nearly Saffir- Simpson Category 5 status. Overviews of the Costa Riw was chosen as a deployment site characteristics of these storms along vvith the pre- to take advantage of the geographically compact genesis environment of Tropical Storm Eugene in tropical cyclone genesis region of the Eastern the Eastern Pacific are described in more detail in Pacific Ocean near Central America. However, Halverson et al. 2006. the unusual start to the Atlantic basin 2005 hurricane season provided numerous opportunities to sample tropical cyclone development and intensification in the Caribbean NASA ER-2 Instrument Payload for TCSP ~XdvancedM imawP racpmion Ra&xnetar (AMPR) mghtning insbumant Package (LIP) SPrecpitation stmctures $Total Ightning count & rates. storm efectncal cumnt. ~EloudR adar System (CRS) slom charge stmcture ace content and vertical velowhes MODIS Arboma Simulator (MAS) (HR-2 ocppler Radar (EWP) SVeibfe and inhared imagery *ate rates. ice content, mrncal miowties Microwave Temperature Pmfler (MTP) migh Altitude MMiC Sounding Radimetar (HAMSR) STemperature pmfifesa nd tmppsuse height STemperafurea nd humidity pmrifes 1 Figure 1. Scientific instrumentationf lown on board the NASA ER-2 aircraft during TCSP. during July-November and the NSF Rainband 3. CONCLUDING REMARKS and Intensity Experiment (RAINEX) observations collected during August-September Detailed information about the TCSP to characterize the unique behavior of the campaign, daily mission summaries, satellite unusually long and active 2005 hurricane animations, flight tracks, instrument data and season in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, quicklook images of the data can be found by and Gulf of Mexico.. The TCSP observations visiting the TCSP website at . also increase the value of the tropical cyclone htto://tcsD.nsstc.nasa.aov. This information has data collected during the previous NASA considerable merit for research pertaining to Convection and Moisture Experiments (CAMEX) tropical cyclone life cycle and intensity changes. of 1998 and 2001 (described in Kakar et al. However, the true value of the July TCSP 2006) which provided an unprecedented body of observations increase significantly when 3-dimensional information of tropical cyclone combined with NOM IFEX information collected behavior, structure, and life cycle collected by high altitude NASA aircraft and lower altitude Rogers, R., M. Black, R. Hood, J. Halverson, E. NOAA aircraft. The comprehensive scope and Zipser, and G. Heymsfield, 2006: THE diverse variety of the NASA, NOM, and NSF INTENSITY FORECASTING EXPERIMENT tropical cyclone field data provides a very (IFEX): A NOAA MULTI-YEAR FIELD important opportunity for collaborative research PROGRAM FOR IMPROVING TROPOICAL across Federal agencies, academia, and private CYCLONE INTENSITY FORECASTING, 27" industry to improve the understanding and Conference on Hurricane and Tropical predictability of future tropical cyclones. Meteorology, 24-28 April, Monterey, CA. 4. REFERENCES 5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Halverson J., P. L. Azofeifa, M. Black, S. Braun, The authors are grateful to Drs. Mary Cleave D. Cecil, M. Goodman, A. Heymsfield, G. and Jack Kaye of the NASA Science Mission Heymsfield, R. Hood, T. Krishnamurti, G. Directorate for their support of the NASA TCSP McFarquhar, J. Molinari, R. Rogers, J. Turk, C. mission. The authors also acknowledge Dr. Velden, D.-L. Zhang, E. Zipser, and R. Kakar, Frank Marks of the NOAA Hurricane Research 2006: NASA's Tropical Cloud Systems and Division and other members of NOM Processes (TCSP) Experiment: Investigating management who have supported this Tropical Cyclogenesis and Hurricane Intensity NASNNOAA research collaboration. The Change. Submiffed to Bull. Amer. Meteor. SOC. authors are deeply indebted to the aircraft pilots and crew, the NASA TCSP Project Office and NOAA Aircraft Operations Center and the Costa Kakar, R, M. Goodman, R. Hood, A. Guillory, Rican government, weather service, and 2006: Overview of the Convection And Moisture scientific community who significantly Experiment, J. of Atmos. Sci. 63, 5-18 contributed to the field phase of the TCSP experiment