1. IFEX-09: NOAA’s Hurricane Field Program Eric W. Uhlhorn NOAA/AOML/Hurricane Research Division

2. Intensity Forecasting Experiment (IFEX; Rogers et al., BAMS, 2006) IFEX is intended to improve the prediction of tropical cyclone (TC) intensity change by: – Collecting observations that span the TC life cycle in a variety of environments Pre-genesis Rapid Intensification Landfall – Developing and refining measurement technologies that provide improved real- time monitoring of TC intensity, structure, and environment SFMR surface winds Doppler 3-D wind vector IWRAP – Improving the understanding of the physical processes important in intensity change for a TC at all stages of its life cycle. Air-sea interactions Convective-scale and microphysical processes

3. 2009 Goals Upper ocean observations – Gulf of Mexico Loop Current variability through a joint NOAA/DoI MMS project – Continue float/drifter deployments coordinated through CARCAH/53 rd WRS – Real-time AXBT data processing and transmission from P-3 Doppler winds – Real-time processing and transmission from P-3 – Available for inner-core data asssimilation SALEX/envrionmental interactions – Test observing proto-vortex “pouches” (easterly-waves) in pre-genesis stage (PREDICT-2010 dry run) – Coordinate P-3 and G-IV observing capabilities Other – Landfall, SFMR, Rapid-intensity change

4. Summary – A Relatively Quiet Season Forward deployment to Barbados (12-22 Aug) – N43RF and N49RF – TS Ana (14-16 Aug.) – H Bill (18-21 Aug.) TS Danny from KMCF (25-28 Aug.) Other – Pre-season GoM AXBT (15 July) – Coyote UAS test (20 Sept.) – SFMR rain measurements (21 Sept.)

5. Ana DateA/CT/O timeFlt IDMission Doppler AnalysesDropsondeAXBT 14 AugN49RF20Z090814N1SALEX19 15 AugN43RF20ZCanceled20 15 AugN49RF20Z090815N1SALEX 16 AugN43RF08ZCanceled 16 AugN49RF08ZCanceled 16 AugN43RF20Z090816I1SALEX/TDR216 18 AugN43RF08ZCanceled

6. TS Ana 16-18 August N49RFN43RF E. Blake, NHC

7. Saharan Air Layer 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 5a 6a 7b 4a 3a 2a 1a 8a 7a 3b Ana 090914N1

8. Bill DateA/CT/O timeFlt IDMission Doppler AnalysesDropsondeAXBT 18 AugN43RF08ZCanceled 18 AugN49RF08Z090818N1SALEX25 18 AugN43RF20Z090818I1TDR339 18 AugN49RF20Z090818N2SALEX27 19 AugN43RF08Z090819I1TDR422 19 AugN49RF08Z090819N1SALEX20 19 AugN43RF20Z090819I2TDR424 19 AugN49RF20Z090819N2SALEX18 20 AugN43RF08Z090820I1TDR214 20 AugN49RF08Z090820N1SALEX24 20 AugN43RF20Z090820I2TDR21 20 AugN49RF1730Z090820N2 Syn. Surv./NHC33 21 AugN49RF1730Z090821N1 Syn. Surv./NHC27

9. Hurricane Bill 18 – 21 August L. Avila, NHC

10. Bill 090818N2 Environmental Interactions

11. 1 km alt.3 km alt. Tail Doppler Radar – Bill 090819I1

12. Danny DateA/CFlight IDT/OMissionDoppler Analyses DropsondeAXBT 25 AugN49RF090825N120ZSALEX21 25 AugN43RF090825I1Cancelled 26 AugN43RF090826I108ZTDR31210 26 AugN49RF090826N11730ZSyn. Surv./NHC 29 27 AugN43RF090826I220ZTDR31310 27 AugN43RF090827I108ZTDR31619 27 AugN49RF090827N11730ZSyn. Surv./NHC 28 27 AugN43RF090827I220ZTDR31519 28 AugN43RF090828I108ZTDR1219

13. TS Danny 26-28 August

14. Environmental Interactions – Danny 090825N1 2 1 4 2a 1a 2c 2 3 5 6 7 1b 2b 3a 3b 3c 4a 5a 6a 6b 8 7a 090825n (with changes): near take-off

15. Danny 090826I2

16. Danny 090826I2 Vortex-scale observations 2242-2556 UTC Aug. 26 850 hPa drops 700 hPa drops 500 hPa drops

17. Other Missions Pre-season Gulf of Mexico AXBT ocean survey Coyote UAS test flight SFMR rain observations (Hurricane Ida)

18. AXBT Gulf of Mexico Survey

19. Coyote UAS Test Flight 090920I1 Fill existing low altitude data void in hurricanes Fill existing low altitude data void in hurricanes Safely provide continuous observations of T,P,V, q below 200ft Safely provide continuous observations of T,P,V, q below 200ft – Unique measurements of near-surface winds in the eyewall. – Possible early detection of a rapid intensity change process as ‘loitering’ in the eye takes place.

20. SFMR mission Support JHT project Improve SFMR surface wind accuracy by improving rain modeling – Obtain SFMR Tb measurements in convective rain – Relate absorprtion coefficient to rain rate measurements Current Absorp. Coef. Data

21. A look ahead to 2010 – Continuation of IFEX objectives – ~700 hours total for all aircraft – N42RF (P-3) will be available by early June, N43RF available early August, N49RF (G-IV) available early June – Coordinate with NSF/PREDICT and NASA/GRIP experiments

22. IFEX goal 1: collecting observations spanning lifecycle – Doppler radar – Synoptic surveillance – HWRFx real-time runs – HFIP real-time runs IFEX goal 2: new and improved measurement technologies – SFMR evaluations – Ocean winds/AWRAP IFEX goal 3: improving understanding – Genesis – SAL/vortex interactions – Rapid Intensity Change Landfall coordination Ocean Observations Focus areas for 2010

23. Acknowledgments AOC NHC NPS