June 10, 1994

Vortex Aircraft Mission #10

Flight ID:

940610I

Flight Track:


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Flight Crew:

Chief Scientist: Watson/Ziegler         Flight Director:  Damiano
Doppler Radar:   Shepherd/Million       Pilots:           Ticknor/Kennedy
Cloud Physics:   Pradas                 Data Technician:  Jacobs
Observer:        Bluestein              Systems Engineer: Lynch
Observer:        Emlaw (NWS)


Takeoff Time: 1907 UTC                  Landing Time: 0216 UTC
Official Mission Duration: 7.4 hrs
Number of Data Tapes Used:  Radar: 1    Cloud Physics: 0        Video: 3

Data Systems Log

Radar Data System Log   Time On(UTC)    Time Off(UTC)   Comments
Tape #1                 2024                            Start LF
                        2201                            Start TA
                                        0143            Stop record


Cloud Physics Log       Time On(UTC)    Time Off(UTC)   Comments
                        1922            0158            Recycled tape
                                                        No data

Summary:

The preflight plan was to go west to Amarillo, TX where possible severe weather would develop. NOAA 43 departed Will Rogers at 1907 UTC, climbing to 10,000' MSL heading toward Amarillo. Upon reaching Amarillo, the plan called for going to Dalhart, TX and execute a descent sounding to 500' AGL, which was completed at 2020 UTC.

We then proceeded NNW to sample the boundary layer into SE Colorado at 500' AGL, which probably would fill in with convection along an imaginary line between weather in western Kansas and convection in southern Colorado and NE New Mexico. Little was noted as we followed the terrain. Winds, however, backed from the south to SE. We made contact again with the FC at 2134 UTC. The FC suggested we examined the mountain convection NW of Dalhart, TX. Much of the convection was dissipating, looked miserable, both on radar, and visually. At 2308 UTC we informed the FC of what we found; he cancelled operations and released the aircraft. He would, later, regroup the ground teams when a supercell developed near Amarillo and tracked southward.

Upon being released, we headed north to Goodland, KS where there had been severe weather reports. Our first Doppler pass was initiated on a weak supercell at 2357 UTC, visually noting a small wall cloud and very little precipitation. We made 9 passes on the supercell and documented its demise. At 0049 UTC, the cell disconnected itself from the low-level cumulus and the mid/upper level cloud and anvil. Very interesting dissapation! We departed the area at 0047 UTC, arriving back at Will Rogers at 0216 UTC consuming 7.4 hours. This flight ended VORTEX aircraft operations for 1994, a successful beginning, even during a poor tornado year.

Irv Watson

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