Summary of:

27-28 April 1999 at Naval Research Lab - Monterey

Attendees: Steve Burk, Steve Chai, J. Hawkins, T. Lee, J. Lewis, K. Richardson, P. Tag, W. Thompson, J. Turk, G. Vali, D. Westphal, M. Wetzel

M. Wetzel outlined the scientific goals for the field program and described the draft document for the Operations Plan and the primary objectives of the satellite data processing and analysis.

She also presented some information from Roger Samelson (Oregon State University) regarding datasets that will be available as part of the OSU research project on ocean-atmospheric modeling.

W. Thompson summarized the planned COAMPS model domain, resolution and implementation, as well as model output parameters and archival procedures. Real-time model output fields will focus on the model layer parameters at the surface and in the cloud layers.

G. Vali presented information on the King Air instrumentation and aircraft flight options, in addition to the flight scheduling logistics.

A field project simulation experiment is targeted for June 1, in which the COAMPS model and satellite data processing will be conducted over the region and with output products expected for August. A sample aircraft dataset will also be available for simulation of the projected flight tracks.

The field project is scheduled from 4 August to 4 September. Several scientists from University of Wyoming will be based in Corvallis, as will M. Wetzel/Steve Chai from DRI. A field project review meeting is tentatively scheduled in Corvallis for August 20, and all interested parties from NRL, ONR and OSU are invited to attend.

A daily field operations schedule was established, beginning with an early morning briefing on the model forecasts and satellite image analysis. This briefing will be held at the Corvallis airport, and flight take-off will occur soon after the briefing if conditions warrant a research flight. The daily schedule (LST) is:

09:00 Forecast, status briefing and flight planning ; conference call to NRL

10:00 Beginning of flight time window

20:00 End of expected flight time window

Data products will be available in near real-time and archived as follows:

COAMPS: Selected 3-hour interval model output graphics for 24- or36-hour simulations will be posted on the NRL web site (www.nrlmry.navy.mil/~coamps), including 2-D cross-sections and plan view contour plots for levels within the boundary layer. All output and input parameters will be archived at NRL (W. Thompson).

Satellite: The NRL day-night cloud product will be available over the study region, posted on the NRL web site, and the Aerosol Optical Depth product is expected to be available over the Oregon region also. GOES derived cloud products developed by M. Wetzel and J. Turk will be available during daylight hours, posted on the NRL web site (www.nrlmry.navy.mil/projects/sat_products.html). An NRL product on ceiling and visibility will also be available over the study region (www.nrlmry.navy.mil/~bankert/htdocs/MetarMaps.html). The GOES derived products will be produced for the domain and map projection used for the COAMPS output. A datafile containing the 1-minute lat/lon positions along the aircraft flight track will be created so that post-flight analysis can be done using aircraft tracks plotted on the satellite image products. All GOES raw and derived products will be archived at NRL, as well as the AVHRR raw data (J. Turk).

Aircraft: Selected datasets of 10-second samples from the King Air will be available within about 2 hours after the conclusion of the flight. Parameters will include temperature, height, droplet and precipitation liquid water content, droplet effective radius, and the downward-looking IR sensor temperature. Profile plots will be produced to aid in interpretation of the cloud structure, with parameters including mixing ratio, liquid water content, droplet effective radius, winds and temperature. All raw data will be archived at University of Wyoming (G. Vali).

Data courtesy of OSU: The R/V Wecoma will likely be cruising within the aircraft flight region and would provide surface meteorology and radiation data. Four ocean data moorings have been deployed (one near Newport) with meteorological and radiation sensors reporting in near-realtime every 15 minutes. SST imagery will be available (www.oce.orst.edu/po/coastal.html), as will the NOAA ETL wind profiler, RASS acoustic sounder, and surface meteorology site near Newport (www7.etl.noaa.gov/data). Web page for other ocean data is (www.ics.orst.edu/marine_obs.shtml).