1. Review of NOAA Intensity Forecasting Experiment (IFEX) 2008 Accomplishments and Plans for 2009 Eric Uhlhorn, Frank Marks, John Gamache, Sim Aberson, Jason Dunion NOAA/AOML/HRD

2. Highlights Second busiest season (by flight hours) TC genesis of Dolly and Fay Pre- and a post-storm ocean surveys in Gustav and Ike, including floats/drifters/expendables HFIP/Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) real-time Doppler data for TDR missions in Ike Rapid intensification event in Paloma Numerous collaborators

3. Storm P-3 Flights G-IV Flights GPS Dropsondes AXBTs Airborne Radar Analyses H*Wind Analyses HRS Runs Dolly63145569234 Fay1241900183913 Gustav84204208155910 Hanna1263004211 Ike118375207155912 Kyle8059024109 Paloma321205414275 Totals392311565259525964

4. Dolly – 6 P3 and 3 G-IV flights from 07/20 to 07/23 Nearly continuous coverage from before genesis to hurricane and landfall. Looked at convective bursts, arc clouds, SFMR winds in on- and off-shore flows, ocean structure.

5. Evolution of Dolly’s wind field at 1 km during last 24 h before landfall 7/21 23Z7/22 11Z7/22 23Z 7/22 00Z 7/22 13Z 7/23 01Z

6. Gustav – 8 P3/4 GIV 08/28 to 09/03 A pre- and a post-storm ocean survey in collaboration with EMC, UM/RSMAS, and URI, and coordination with AOML/PhOD, the University of Washington, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, Air Force 53rd WRS, and CARCAH to deploy 12 floats/drifters ahead of the storm. A landfall flight coordinated with mobile teams from UF/FCMP, TTU, LSU, UA-Hunstville, and the Center for Severe Weather Research. Superobs sent for realtime EnKF assimilation in WRF-ARW at TACC (in collaboration with TAMU and PSU). Coverage from rapid intensification through landfall. Looked at mesoscale convective systems and potentially tornadic rainbands near landfall and SFMR validation in shallow bathymetry.

7. Gustav – Coordinated Upper-Ocean Response Experiment (08/28 – 09/03)

8. Gustav – Coordinated Landfall Survey TTU StickNet UF/FCMP UAH Offshore flow Onshore flow

9. A pre- and a post-storm ocean survey in collaboration with EMC, UM/RSMAS, and URI, and coordination with AOML/PhOD, the University of Washington, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, Air Force 53rd WRS, and CARCAH to deploy 9 floats/drifters ahead of the storm. A landfall flight coordinated with mobile teams from UF/FCMP, TTU, LSU, UA-Hunstville, and the Center for Severe Weather Research. Superobs sent for realtime EnKF assimilation in WRF-ARW at TACC (in collaboration with TAMU and PSU). Ike – 11 P3/8 G-IV 09/05 to 09/15

10. Ike – Coordinated Upper-Ocean Response Experiment (09/08 – 09/15)

11. HFIP-TACC Real-time for Ike Ensemble Track Ensemble max 10-m wind

12. Paloma RI – 3 P3/2 G-1V 11/05 to 11/08 11/08 19Z11/08 16Z11/07 09Z11/07 06Z

13. Plans for 2009 Continue TDR missions and real-time Doppler data transmission Continue coordination with NESDIS Ocean Winds Coordinate with 53 rd for additional float/drifter deployments Commence joint experiment with Dept. of Interior/MMS for Loop Current study

14. Plan for NOAA WP-3D profiling over MMS Moorings (In collaboration with AOML HRD, AOC, TPC, NCEP) Goal: To observe and improve our understanding of the LC response to the near- surface wind structure during TC passages. Specific objectives are: 1.The oceanic response of the LC to TC forcing; and, 2.Influence of the LC response on the atmospheric boundary layer and intensity. Deliverables include: V, T, S profiles to 1000 m @ 2-m resolution. Surface winds (SFMR, GPS) provided by HRD. Atmospheric profiles of V, T and RH @ 5-m resolution.

15. Summary: Quality ocean data needed for coupled models! Good data set-serves as the prototype of ocean/atmosphere measurements. Combine adaptive aircraft surveys with moored, drifter and ship based measurements as part of the MMS/SAIC Dynamics of the Loop Current Study with the NOAA HFIP (AOML, NCEP), NSF and NASA (leveraging assets this year). Negative feedback (cooling/mixing induced by strong winds and CCR) as opposed to positive feedback over the LC/ WCR. Need to update OHC climatology in Atlantic basin. SST modulated by warm and cold ocean features that have to be properly initialized in ocean models and mixing processes impact fluxes. Targeted temperature and current measurements needed to assess mixing schemes, fluxes and evaluate initialization schemes. Expendables (AXCP, AXCTD) drifters and floats required for satellite and oceanic and coupled model evaluations.