The Performance of Minimet Wind and Temperature Chain Drifters in Hurricane Rita William Scuba and Peter Niiler Scripps Institution of Oceanography La Jolla, California, U.S.A.

Buoy’s Deployment Position and Path of Hurricane Rita

System Components Minimet sphere and electronics – Pacific Gyre Minimet sphere and electronics – Pacific Gyre Temperature chain components – Clearwater Instruments Temperature chain components – Clearwater Instruments Temperature chain construction – Scripps Institution of Oceanography Temperature chain construction – Scripps Institution of Oceanography Parachute and rigging – AERO Parachute and rigging – AERO Deployment – 53 rd “Hurricane Hunters” U.S. Air Force Squadron Deployment – 53 rd “Hurricane Hunters” U.S. Air Force Squadron

Temperature Chain Nodes

Getting the Data Through ARGOS :48: :03: :18: Pages used 8 Pages used 1 for SST, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and wind direction 1 for SST, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and wind direction 7 for temperature chain data 7 for temperature chain data 5 hours and 15 minutes of temperature data archived 5 hours and 15 minutes of temperature data archived If measured value is < 2 then 30 is added to temperature value, otherwise, 20 is added to temperature value If measured value is < 2 then 30 is added to temperature value, otherwise, 20 is added to temperature value

Packaging the Instruments

Data from Hurricane Katrina

Buoys at Dobbins AFB

Deployment Planning

Drifter Tracks

Survivability 2005: 20 of 20 drifters transmitted data through hurricane Rita (Category 5) 2005: 20 of 20 drifters transmitted data through hurricane Rita (Category 5) All 8 of 8 temperature chains functioned properly All 8 of 8 temperature chains functioned properly 2004: 35 of 39 drifters transmitted data through hurricane Frances (Category 4) 2004: 35 of 39 drifters transmitted data through hurricane Frances (Category 4) Only 1 of 8 temperature chains functioned properly Only 1 of 8 temperature chains functioned properly 2003: 8 of 16 drifters transmitted data through hurricane Fabian (Category 4) 2003: 8 of 16 drifters transmitted data through hurricane Fabian (Category 4)

Data on the GTS New GTS templates created New GTS templates created Buoy pressure and SST data where assimilated into the hurricane prediction models in real time Buoy pressure and SST data where assimilated into the hurricane prediction models in real time Subsurface temperature not on the GTS right away Subsurface temperature not on the GTS right away Special thank to Mayra, Etienne and Andy for their work on getting the data on the GTS Special thank to Mayra, Etienne and Andy for their work on getting the data on the GTS

Subsurface Temperature Profiles

Wind Speed Plot

Summary Experiment methodology proved successful for obtaining surface and subsurface data in hurricanes Experiment methodology proved successful for obtaining surface and subsurface data in hurricanes Temperature chain technology tested and proved successful Temperature chain technology tested and proved successful Wind speed has yet to be examined Wind speed has yet to be examined

The End