Extended Abstract (1.8M)8.1
Recent results from NOAA's Hurricane Intensity Forecast Experiment (IFEX)
Frank D. Marks Jr., NOAA/AOML/HRD, Miami, FL
In 2005 NOAA began the Intensity Forecast Experiment (IFEX) which is a multi-year effort to collect high quality observations of the atmosphere and ocean in and around tropical cyclones throughout the whole storm life cycle. Airborne observing technologies are described that provide the time evolution of the hurricane three-dimensional wind structure for use by forecasters and in model initialization and evaluation. In situ GPS dropwindsondes, Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer, and airborne Tail Doppler radar on NOAA WP-3D aircraft in addition to flight-level data are transmitted in real time to the operational centers for use in forecast guidance and model initialization. In addition new unmanned aerial system observing capabilities were tested in 2005 and 2006 providing real-time observations to the operational centers as guidance on current low-level wind structure. Use of these data sets for improving our understanding of hurricane intensity and structure changes, as well as forecast guidance will be discussed.
Session 8, Results From Recent Field Experiments and Their Potential Relevance to Operational Prediction
Wednesday, 17 January 2007, 4:00 PM-5:15 PM, 210B
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