Monday, 29 April 2002
Supersaturation in tropical storms measured during CAMEX-3 and CAMEX-4
The meteorology and cloud microphysics of hurricanes and tropical storms were studied during NASA's Third and Fourth Convection and Moisture Experiments (CAMEX-3 and CAMEX-4) in the summers of 1998 and 2001, respectively. In-situ instrumentation on the NASA DC-8 aircraft included the JPL Laser Hygrometer, the Meteorological Measurement System (MMS) for measurements of pressure, temperature, and winds, a 2DP particle spectrometer, a Cloud Particle Imager (CPI), and for measurements of cloud water content, a Counterflow Virtual Impactor (CVI) and a Nevzorov Probe. On several flights, the DC-8 intercepted intense updrafts in the upper levels of tropical storms. Within these updrafts were ice particles and significant supersaturations (10 to 20% or more). This paper will examine the supersaturations and particle properties within updrafts to better understand the evolution of ice particles in tropical storms.
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