SUMMARY OF COAST FLIGHT 13

Date: Sun, 22 Jul 2001 14:18:10 -0400 (EDT)
From: JOHN M BANE
Subject: COAST Flight Report - July 21

COAST Flight Number 13 was flown on July 21, 2001. This flight was conducted to capture the system just as a period of northerly winds began in the region. This follows a period of about three days of calm or weak southerly winds. Our flight on July 18 (COAST Flight 12) should provide us with a look at the system during the period prior to this onset of upwelling-favorable winds. If the northerly winds persist for the next few days (which is forecast as of today), we plan to fly again on July 23 and 25 to obtain a time series of this wind event.

Measurements were made of: SST, subsurface ocean temperature, and upper-ocean color; atmospheric temperature, humidity and horizontal winds. Data were collected on all eight Big Box Lines, flying from south to north.

AXBTs were deployed as follows:

Line 2: 6 AXBTs
Line 4: 6 AXBTs
Line 6: 7 AXBTs
Line 8: 6 AXBTs

Vertical sections of meteorological variables were measured on lines 1, 3, 5 and 7, extending from 60 m to 1,000 m altitude. Winds were northerly at around 10 knots throughout the study area, and there was a temperature inversion observed on Lines 1, 3 and 5 at around 800m height. There seemed to be only a hint of stronger winds around 10 km from the coast.

The SST field reflected the northerly winds, with cool water near the coast. As the winds had just changed around to moderate and northerly, the nearshore SSTs were cool but not the lowest we have seen this summer.

(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 or 4-days-plus results areas. All of these are buttons off of the main COAST site.

Submitted by:
John Bane
July 22, 2001