Miguel A. Cortez1,4, Andrew C. Kren2,3, Lidia Cucurull3, Ghassan Alaka2,3 and Rosa Fitzgerald1
The University of Texas at El Paso1, Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, University of Miami2, NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Hurricane Research Division3, NOAA Center for Atmospheric Science4
ABSTRACT
In order to improve forecasting, supplemental data from aircraft have become essential, especially in regards to hurricane track and intensity prediction. In this study, an evaluation into the impact of dropsonde data from the Global Hawk (GH) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) is investigated using both the operational Hurricane Weather Research Forecasting model (HWRF-H217) and the Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS)/Global Forecast System Model (GFS). The GH dropsonde impact is evaluated for Hurricanes in the Atlantic; Harvey and Franklin, and in the East Pacific Tropical Storm Lidia. We evaluate storm track, sea-level pressure, and wind errors with and in the absence of GH dropsondes. In addition, an evaluation is performed to examine precipitation forecasts from the additional GH data, as well as synoptic differences between the CTL forecasts (denying GH dropsondes) and the dropsonde experiments.
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