SUMMARY OF COAST FLIGHT 8
Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 14:13:12 -0400 (EDT)
From: JOHN M BANE
Subject: COAST Flight Report - June 21
COAST Flight Number 8 was flown on June 21, 2001. After deploying five
(of six planned) AXBTs on Big Box Line 2 between about 1330 and 1400 PDT,
measurements were concluded early due to extremely low cloud and fog
layers over the study area. We initially proceeded westward from the
coastline along Line 2, flying at 500 ft, which put us below an overcast
stratus layer. About 30 nm from shore the base of the cloud layer
lowered
to ultimately reach the sea surface, and although the flight conditions
were acceptable, we could not see the ocean surface well enough for safe
BT deployment. The low clouds also prevented our remote sensors from
seeing the surface for SST and color measurements. We climbed to above
the stratus layer and observed the entire area within our view to be
covered in a similar fashion. The decision was made to return to
Corvallis.
The five AXBT profiles that were measured and the abbreviated E-W section
that they comprise, along with the SST and wind data collected on this
line will be reported as the data set for this flight. The wind was
below
ten knots at 500 ft, and surface slicks and foam lines (some with
small-scale eddies on them) could be seen easily. We obtained several
digital photographs of these features.
As this was to be the first of several (roughly) weekly monitoring
flights
during the period between major COAST cruises, we will attempt another
such flight as soon as the weather permits.
(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
June 22, 2001
