P1.21
The storm studies in the Arctic (STAR) field campaign
Rebekah Martin, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; and J. Hanesiak, R. Stewart, G. W. K. Moore, P. A. Taylor, J. W. Strapp, and D. Hudak
The Storm Studies in the Arctic (STAR) is a four-year research Network (2007-2010) involving a wide range of activities on the part of researchers from five Canadian universities and Environment Canada. As well, in order to optimize the applicability of STAR Network science, the network has endeavored to engage the user community (northern communities and government sectors) in interactive communication. The project is concerned with the documentation, better understanding and improved prediction of meteorological and related hazards in the Canadian Arctic; including their modification by local topography and land-sea-ice-ocean transitions, and their impact on local communities. To further this goal, a major meteorological field campaign took place from October 10 –November 30, 2007 and in February 2008 and was focused on southern Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, which is a region that experiences intense autumn and winter storms. During the field campaign, STAR conducted a variety of surface-based and unique research aircraft field measurements, and also collected high-resolution modeling products and remote sensing measurements for validation purposes. In addition to an increased frequency of upper air soundings taken during the campaign, a total of 14 research flights were flown between November 5 –30, 2007, with 8 of them coinciding with CloudSat passes, and these measurements comprise the first Arctic CloudSat validation data set. The research aircraft was outfitted with several cloud microphysical measurements and three unique Doppler polarized airborne radars operating in Ka, X and W bands. As well, several automated weather stations were set up on southern Baffin Island as part of a mesonet to provide greater surface measurement detail than was previously available. In this talk, we will discuss the project area, instrumentation platforms used, real-time forecasts, storm cases, and analysis plans. Over the course of the campaign, a number of synoptic and mesoscale features were sampled, including fronts, upslope/terrain-enhanced precipitation, convective precipitation, boundary layer cloud/precipitation as well as targeted CloudSat missions. This talk will also highlight details of a few of these events.
Poster Session 1, Posters
Monday, 18 May 2009, 5:00 PM-7:00 PM, Wisconsin Ballroom
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