{"id":28,"date":"2016-01-21T15:30:56","date_gmt":"2016-01-21T15:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ciresblogs.colorado.edu\/el-nino-rapid-response\/?p=28"},"modified":"2017-01-13T22:39:12","modified_gmt":"2017-01-13T22:39:12","slug":"its-officially-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ciresblogs.colorado.edu\/el-nino-rapid-response\/2016\/01\/21\/its-officially-on\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s officially on!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"It\u2019s<\/p>\n\n

HONOLULU, HAWAII\u200a\u2014\u200aToday, the NOAA Team successfully completed the first research flight of the El Nino Rapid Response Field Campaign. The NOAA Gulfstream IV (G-IV) lifted off the deck from Honolulu International Airport at 11:00 am Hawaii Time and dropped 31 sondes according to our originally filed 8-hour flight plan: flying south out of Hawaii, around the tropical convection, then turning north and heading back home\u200a\u2014\u200aall the while dropping sondes in a \u201chouse\u201d pattern. As if that wasn\u2019t amazing enough, this mission also marked the first time that the G-IV crossed south of the Equator!<\/p>\n

Why are we flying to the tropics? The measurements we\u2019re taking from the G-IV give us an unprecedented glimpse into the \u201cfirst link in the chain\u201d of the atmosphere\u2019s response (or what happens in the atmosphere) in El Ni\u00f1o conditions. If we can understand that initial response (or link) better, then we can improve weather predictions under El Ni\u00f1o conditions further down the chain in California and other parts of the U.S., including storms on the East Coast.<\/p>\n

\"1-ZJnb06pEcmRfylIzkmdHQQ<\/p>\n

So, what are \u201csondes\u201d? The sondes are like mini-weather stations housed in a cardboard tube. They\u2019re \u201cdropped\u201d from the tail section of the G-IV, through a \u201cchute.\u201d Once they are airborne, a small parachute deploys allowing the sonde to drift down to the surface. During its descent, the sonde continuously transmits data back to the plane, where it\u2019s quality checked. The sonde measurements are then uploaded via satellite to a global communications system that makes the data available quickly to weather services, forecasters, and modelers around the world through the World Meteorological Organization.<\/p>\n

Where do the sondes go? The sondes are dropped from the plane (which is flying at an altitude of ~45,00 feet) at specified \u201cwaypoints.\u201d The waypoints are determined by the mission scientists and forecast teams based on the current and predicted weather situation and what questions about El Ni\u00f1o we\u2019re trying to address under the present conditions.<\/p>\n

What information does the sonde actually provide? The sonde gathers data on atmospheric temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed and wind direction\u200a\u2014\u200ainfo that is critical to understanding and forecasting weather, El Ni\u00f1o, and the effects of El Ni\u00f1o.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

What do the sondes \u201cshow\u201d you and how do you use the information to better forecast El Ni\u00f1o events? To find out, you\u2019ll have to stay tuned for upcoming blogspots!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n