A Long-Term, High-Quality, High-Vertical-Resolution GPS Dropsonde Dataset for Hurricane and Other Studies

Author:

Wang Junhong (June)1,Young Kate2,Hock Terry2,Lauritsen Dean2,Behringer Dalton2,Black Michael3,Black Peter G.4,Franklin James5,Halverson Jeff6,Molinari John7,Nguyen Leon7,Reale Tony8,Smith Jeff9,Sun Bomin10,Wang Qing11,Zhang Jun A.12

Affiliation:

1. National Center for Atmospheric Research,* Boulder, Colorado, and Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York

2. National Center for Atmospheric Research,* Boulder, Colorado

3. NOAA/HRD, Miami, Florida

4. Science Applications International Corporation, Inc., Monterey, California

5. NOAA/NHC, Miami, Florida

6. University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland

7. DAES, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York

8. NOAA/NESDIS, Camp Springs, Maryland

9. NOAA/AOC, MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida

10. I.M. Systems Group, Rockville, Maryland

11. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California

12. NOAA/HRD, and Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida

Abstract

Abstract A GPS dropsonde is a scientific instrument deployed from research and operational aircraft that descends through the atmosphere by a parachute. The dropsonde provides high-quality, high-vertical-resolution profiles of atmospheric pressure, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and direction from the aircraft flight level to the surface over oceans and remote areas. Since 1996, GPS dropsondes have been routinely dropped during hurricane reconnaissance and surveillance flights to help predict hurricane track and intensity. From 1996 to 2012, NOAA has dropped 13,681 dropsondes inside hurricane eye walls or in the surrounding environment for 120 tropical cyclones (TCs). All NOAA dropsonde data have been collected, reformatted to one format, and consistently and carefully quality controlled using state-of-the-art quality-control (QC) tools. Three value-added products, the vertical air velocity and the radius and azimuth angle of each dropsonde location, are generated and added to the dataset. As a result, a long-term (1996–2012), high-quality, high-vertical-resolution (∼5–15 m) GPS dropsonde dataset is created and made readily available for public access. The dropsonde data collected during hurricane reconnaissance and surveillance flights have improved TC-track and TC-intensity forecasts significantly. The impact of dropsonde data on hurricane studies is summarized. The scientific applications of this long-term dropsonde dataset are highlighted, including characterizing TC structures, studying TC environmental interactions, identifying surface-based ducts in the hurricane environment that affect electromagnetic wave propagation, and validating satellite temperature and humidity profiling products.

Publisher

American Meteorological Society

Subject

Atmospheric Science

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3