SUMMARY OF COAST FLIGHT 6

Date: Sat, 09 Jun 2001 08:36:51 -0400 From: JOHN M BANE
To: coast@OCE.ORST.EDU
Subject: COAST Flight Report - June 7

COAST Flight Number 6 was completed on June 7, 2001. This flight covered Big Box lines 8, 6, 4 and 2, flown from south to north. Measurements were made of: SST, ocean color, and ocean subsurface temperature; atmospheric winds, temperature and humidity. AXBTs were deployed on these four lines, but meteorological profiles were made only along the nearshore end of the BB and the seaward end of the BB. This was because there was little wind and atmospheric stratification to be measured, so the aircraft time was not spent making full vertical sections on the odd numbered lines, as we had done during earlier BB flights. Measurements began on Line 8 about 1300 PDT and were completed on Line 2 about 1700 PDT. Measurements were made of: SST, ocean color, and ocean subsurface temperature; atmospheric winds, temperature and humidity.

AXBTs were deployed as follows:
Line 8: 5 AXBTs
Line 6: 7 AXBTs
Line 4: 6 AXBTs
Line 2: 5 AXBTs

Two failed BTs early in the flight meant that we would miss one station somewhere, so we deployed in a fashion that the missing profile was very near the WECOMA, which we overflew near the shoreward end of Line 2. That way we could substitute ship data for the missing BT. We did make one BT drop about 1/4 mile west (astern) of the WECOMA as we approached.

We have instituted the 2-minute-turn maneuver following deployment of a BT in deep water, and that has allowed us to successfully receive a full profile of data at the aircraft from each BT. This has worked on the past two flights, one when there was a reasonably high sea state and one (this flight) during which the sea was nearly flat.

SST profiles showed warm surface waters throughout the area. Temperatures were the highest we have seen (some readings near 19C were observed).

We flew two, N-S, one-cycle "sawtooth" patterns (descent from 800m to 60m, then climb to 800m) along the offshore edge of the BB, and we made several vertical N-S profiles from 60m to 800m along the inshore edge of the BB. As mentioned above, little wind was seen (almost everywhere less than 10 knots) and only a hint of atmospheric stratification.

(Disclaimer - These descriptions are from looking at computer graphical displays while aboard the aircraft, and closer inspection of post-flight data products will provide more accurate conclusions, some of which may differ from statements here.)

Data products will be available from http://www.marine.unc.edu/cool/COAST or they may be retrieved from the real-time results area. Both of these are buttons off of the main COAST site.

Submitted by:
John Bane
June 8, 2001