The Performance of Minimet Wind and Temperature Chain Drifters in Hurricane Rita William Scuba and Peter Niiler Scripps Institution of Oceanography La.

The Performance of Minimet Wind and The Performance of Minimet Wind and Temperature Chain Drifters in Hurricane Temperature Chain Drifters in Hurricane

RitaRita

William Scuba and Peter NiilerWilliam Scuba and Peter Niiler

Scripps Institution of OceanographyScripps Institution of Oceanography

La Jolla, California, U.S.A.La Jolla, California, U.S.A.

Buoy’s Deployment Position and Path of Hurricane Rita

System ComponentsSystem Components

Minimet sphere and electronics – Pacific GyreMinimet sphere and electronics – Pacific Gyre Temperature chain components – Clearwater Temperature chain components – Clearwater

InstrumentsInstruments Temperature chain construction – Scripps Temperature chain construction – Scripps

Institution of OceanographyInstitution of Oceanography Parachute and rigging – AEROParachute and rigging – AERO Deployment – 53Deployment – 53rdrd “Hurricane Hunters” U.S. Air “Hurricane Hunters” U.S. Air

Force SquadronForce Squadron

Temperature Chain NodesTemperature Chain Nodes

Getting the Data Through ARGOSGetting the Data Through ARGOS

2005-09-21 19:48:31 6.5 6.7 6.5 6.4 6.4 6.2 5.9 5.1 3.8 2.9 2.42005-09-21 19:48:31 6.5 6.7 6.5 6.4 6.4 6.2 5.9 5.1 3.8 2.9 2.42005-09-21 20:03:31 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.1 -0.1 -0.2 -0.1 -0.1 0.02005-09-21 20:03:31 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.1 -0.1 -0.2 -0.1 -0.1 0.02005-09-21 20:18:31 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.1 -0.3 -0.1 -0.1 0.02005-09-21 20:18:31 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.1 -0.3 -0.1 -0.1 0.0

8 Pages used8 Pages used 1 for SST, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and wind direction1 for SST, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and wind direction 7 for temperature chain data7 for temperature chain data

5 hours and 15 minutes of temperature data archived5 hours and 15 minutes of temperature data archived

If measured value is < 2 then 30 is added to temperature value, If measured value is < 2 then 30 is added to temperature value, otherwise, 20 is added to temperature valueotherwise, 20 is added to temperature value

Packaging the InstrumentsPackaging the Instruments

Data from Hurricane Katrina

Buoys at Dobbins AFBBuoys at Dobbins AFB

Deployment Planning

Drifter Tracks

SurvivabilitySurvivability 2005: 20 of 20 drifters transmitted data 2005: 20 of 20 drifters transmitted data

through hurricane through hurricane RitaRita (Category 5) (Category 5) All 8 of 8 temperature chains functioned properlyAll 8 of 8 temperature chains functioned properly

2004: 35 of 39 drifters transmitted data 2004: 35 of 39 drifters transmitted data through hurricane through hurricane FrancesFrances (Category 4) (Category 4) Only 1 of 8 temperature chains functioned Only 1 of 8 temperature chains functioned

properlyproperly

2003: 8 of 16 drifters transmitted data 2003: 8 of 16 drifters transmitted data through hurricane through hurricane FabianFabian (Category 4) (Category 4)

Data on the GTSData on the GTS

New GTS templates created New GTS templates created Buoy pressure and SST data where Buoy pressure and SST data where

assimilated into the hurricane assimilated into the hurricane prediction models in real timeprediction models in real time

Subsurface temperature not on the Subsurface temperature not on the GTS right awayGTS right away

Special thank to Mayra, Etienne and Special thank to Mayra, Etienne and Andy for their work on getting the Andy for their work on getting the data on the GTSdata on the GTS

Subsurface Temperature Profiles

Wind Speed Plot

SummarySummary

Experiment methodology proved Experiment methodology proved successful for obtaining surface and successful for obtaining surface and subsurface data in hurricanessubsurface data in hurricanes

Temperature chain technology Temperature chain technology tested and proved successfultested and proved successful

Wind speed has yet to be examinedWind speed has yet to be examined

The EndThe End