WINTER TPARC SPECIFICS

In the winter of 2009, the Winter THORPEX Pacific Asian Regional Campaign (T-PARC) will be followed by the regular Winter Storm Reconnaissance (WSR) program:
Winter T-PARC:
From Mid January to the end of Feburary, the intensive operation period for the winter T-PARC with NOAA G-IV based in Japan, USAF C-130s in Alaska, Russian extra rawinsondes launches (from twice a day to four times a day) as well as E-AMDAR data coverage near the Pacific Rim and Northern India. The Russian rawinsondes will taken adaptively. Approximately 20 out of 37 staions will be selected based on the ET KF Sensitive Area Calculation.
WSR:
March 2009, G-IV will be based in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The program will be organized as follows:
In case of a need for extra observations to be taken with the aim of reducing forecast uncertainty for threatening winter weather events, forecasters at WFO field offices can contact their focal point in their respective region:
US continent:
Alaska:     James Partain
Pacific:    Ken Waters
Western Region:    Andy Edman, Warren Blier
Central Region:    Peter Browning
Southern Region:    Rusty Billingsley
Eastern Region:    Ken Johnson
Canada:
Chris Doyle, Environment Canada
Mexico:
The regional focal points, along with NCEP Service Center focal points, will forward the pertinent information on the forecast event to the Senior Duty Meteorologist at NCEP/NCO by 9:30 am eastern time.

The winter T-PARC program is expected to start in January 15, 2009. Approximately 140 flight hours (18-20 missions) will be available on the G-IV plane through the end of Feburary. In addition, flight hours will be available with 1 USAF C130 planes from January 20, 2009 through the Mid Feburary. The C130 will be based in Alaska, while the NOAA G-IV will be based in Japan.

The WSR is expected to start from March 1, 2009, approximately 55 mission hours will be available for G-IV out of Hawaii. The planes will take dropsonde observations in areas identified by the leading researchers as the most relevant for improving the forecasts for events requested by the field and forecasters.

Aircraft schedules:
C-130: First flight is possible at 2009012012. Last possible flight is at 2009021312. All flights are out of Alaska .
G-IV: For the winter T-PARC, the first flight is possible at 2009011500. Last flight is possible at 2009022800. For WSR, the first flight is possible on March 1, 55 mission hours to be deployed

Comments on the G-IV:
Winter T-PARC 2009 will be using the G-IV based in Yokota AFB, Japan.

Request for regular (objective) targeting

On a regular daily basis, depending on the heavy impact weather event conditions. Requests should be sent in to NCEP SDM (sdm@noaa.gov). The request will be considered along with other requests from leading researchers.
Here is a sample email:
From: Frank.Rosen@noaa.gov
Date: 02/05/2009 08:33 AM
To: Sdm@noaa.gov, Zoltan.Toth@noaa.gov, Yucheng.song@noaa.gov
Good morning,
Priority.........VT.........Verification Area.............Remarks
High..........02/11/00Z....44N/74W......Major East-Central US Storm
Mod...........02/11/12Z....56N134W......SE AK hvy pcpn
Mod...........02/11/12z....27N81W.....Mdt/hvy central Fl rainfall

Rosen/HPC
Verification time (VT) should be provided for 00Z, 12Z. Verification area should be the latitude and longitude points of the high impact weather events.

For Plan of Day (POD), containing used/remaining flight our information, see:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/reconlist.html
or www.hurricanehunters.com
or call up the bulletin NOUS42 KNHC

PROCEDURES FOR SDM (W-TPARC)

PROCEDURES FOR SDM (WSR 2009)

CHANGES FOR 2009

REFERENCE DATA

Back to Winter T-PARC page
Back to Targeted Observations page