24: Monthly Report September Seeding Operations & Atmospheric Research (SOAR) Snapshot of Seeding Operations

Transcription

1 Monthly Report September 05 Project Puerto Rico Cloud Seeding Program Project Manager Gary L. Walker Snapshot of Seeding Operations Date Flight Time (hours) Number of Flares (total) September 0:04 3H, G Watershed(s) Seeded Rio de la Plata, Rio Grande de Loiza Takeoff Time (GMT) 5:9 4 September 0:36 5H, 5G Rio de la Plata 8:36 0 missions this month 4:58 flight time this month 5 September 00:55 3H, 0G Rio de la Plata 6:43 5 September 00:38 H. 0G Rio de la Plata 9:56 7 September 0:8 H, 0G Rio Grande de Loiza 5:46 September 0:5 7H, 3G Rio Grande de Loiza, Rio de la Plata 7:0 63 this month September 0:07 5H, 0G September 0:30 4H, G Rio Grande de Loiza, Rio de la Plata Rio de Bayamon to Rio Hondo, Rio Grande de Loiza 7:35 0:55 7 this month 4 September 00:55 H, 0G Rio Grande de Loiza 8:35 4 September 00:50 4H, 0G 5 September 0:00 5H, 0G Rio Grande de Loiza, Rio de la Plata Rio Grande de Loiza, Rio de la Plata :45 5:56 5 September 0:36 5H, G Rio Grande de Loiza 8:05 8 September 0:35 3H, 0G Rio de la Plata, Rio Grande de Loiza 6:5 9 September : Reconnaissance 7:0 9 September 00:58 H, 0G Rio de la Plata 9:07 0 September 00:5 --- Reconnaissance 6:33

2 0..05 Monthly Report September 05 Pg. Date Flight Time (hours) Number of Flares (total) Watershed(s) Seeded Takeoff Time (GMT) 0 September 0:5 3H, 0G Rio de la Plata 8:53 September 0:3 --- Reconnaissance 9:45 September 0:3 6H, 0G Rio de la Plata 5:0 3 September 0:07 4H, 5G Rio de la Plata 6:4 TOTAL 4:58 Flight Hours 63H, 5G Flares --

3 0..05 Monthly Report September 05 Pg.3 Weather Summary September: Convection associated with a tropical wave produced an increase in shower activity. Seeding operations successfully targeted showers throughout the target area. September: Advection of dry air limited development of precipitation in the area. Convection remained west of San Juan and to the northwest of the target area. No seeding 3 September: Stationary thunderstorms developed rapidly and posed a threat for flash flooding. These storms were left unseeded. 4 September: Deep convection enhanced by an upper level trough allowed for increase d shower activity. Seeding operations successfully targeted showers throughout the Rio de la Plata watershed. These showers produced 3 of estimated rainfall. 5 September: Weak tropical wave passing over Puerto Rico resulted in widespread convection over the target area. Showers were seeded in the Rio de la Plata watershed during missions. 6 September: Weak tropical wave that passed over Puerto Rico in the early morning limited moisture advection in the region. All showers were outside the target area. No seeding. 7 September: Sea breeze convergence combined with some low -level moisture enhanced the shower activity during the day. Seeding operations were successful in the Rio Grande de Loiza watershed. 8 September: Dry conditions prevailed due to a tropical wave being located too far south of the target area. Combined with a capping inversion, this suppressed any shower activity. No seeding. 9 September: A weak disturbance passing over Puerto Rico in the early morning hours allowed dry air and slightly warmer temperatures to be advected into the region. Upper levels of the atmosphere showed similar warming trends, further limiting cloud development and growth. No seeding. 0 September: Low level inversion in the lower levels of the atmosphere and an upper level ridge proved to be a non-conducive environment for convection. No seeding. September: Shallow convection was enhanced by the remnants of Tropical Storm Grace. Ample amounts of moisture during the midday hours allowed for increase shower activity. Rio Grande de Loiza and Rio de la Plata Watersheds were seeded. September: Moderate strength tropical wave passing over Puerto Rico resulted in widespread convection over the target area during the early afternoon timeframe. Rio de Bayamon to Rio Hondo, Rio Grande de Loiza, and Rio de la Plata Watersheds seeded. 3 September: Dry air aloft due to subsidence behind the previous tropical wave limited convection to the western portion of Puerto Rico. No seeding. 4 September: Sea breeze convergence combined with some low-level moisture enhanced the thundershower activity during the day. Fast moving convection was successfully seeded on two occasions, and rainfall totals of up to inch were estimated. Rio Grande de Loiza and Rio de la Plata Watersheds seeded. 5 September: Tropical wave entered the region and provided multiple opportunities for convection. Two successful seeding operations were conducted. Rainfall estimates for the day were up to.5 inches. Rio Grande de Loiza and Rio de la Plata Watersheds were seeded. 6 September: See breeze convergence provided light to moderate fast-moving thundershowers from a passive upper level wave, but deep convection via large scale ascent was not present over the target area. No seeding. 7 September: Cloud cover early in the day prevented the convective temperature fro m being reached during the afternoon hours. Drier air infiltrated the region due to the subsidence behind the wave that passed the previous day. No seeding.

4 0..05 Monthly Report September 05 Pg.4 8 September: High levels of moisture was present through most of the atmosphere. Surface low over Hispaniola, upper level trough, and sea breeze convergence provided sufficient atmospheric dynamics for convection. Rio Grande de Loiza and Rio de la Plata Watersheds were seeded. 9 September: Short lived convection developed due to low level moisture and a weak sea breeze. Dry air entrained into the upper levels from a nearby Bermuda High later in the day, causing subsidence and warming of the atmosphere. Rio de la Plata Watershed was seeded. 0 September: Convergence developed with the sea breeze north of the San Juan region and provided enough low level atmospheric forcing to cause convection. Semi-stationary convection was the result in the Rio de la Plata Watershed being seeded. September: Reconnaissance mission. No seeding. September: Sea breeze convection, wind shear through the mid-levels of the atmosphere, and an upper level disturbance was conducive to low level atmospheric moisture to be present. Radar estimates of between -3 inches of rainfall occurred. Rio de la Plata Watershed was seeded. 3 September: See breeze convergence combined with an upper air disturbance provided deep moisture through the middle levels of the atmosphere. Additionally, enhanced wind shear provided persistent, slow moving convection. Radar estimates up to 6 inches of rainfall were measured. Rio de la Plata Watershed was seeded. 4 September: Although low level moisture was present, upper level dry air and a capping inversion suppressed convection in the target area. Orographic uplift was sufficient to produce convective clouds in the NW portion of the Rio de la Plata Watershed, but the majority of the target area was not conducive to convective development without a forcing mechanism. No seeding. 5 September: Upper level ridge in the atmosphere and a lack of low level forcing was not conducive to seeding operations. Orographic uplift to the west of the target area where there are higher elevations did produce convection, but precipitation was high based and short lived. No seeding. 6 September: Upper level ridge and dry air entrainment in the 5-0Kft region caused shallow convection in Puerto Rico. Convergence from the sea breeze produced short-lived convection to the west of the target area. The low level instability due to daytime heating could not erode the dry air above it to steepen the lapse rates. No seeding. 7 September: Tropospheric mid-levels continued to have dry air advection/entrainment. Weak atmospheric forcing dynamics at the surface was not conducive to seeding operations. Furthermore, the calculated convective temperature was 05 degrees Fahrenheit, a high temperature to reach for the target area with a forecasted high of 0-5 degrees cooler. No seeding. 8 September: Convective inhibition throughout the majority of the troposphere had limited the possibility of deep convection. A strong atmospheric cap with warm ing temperatures as the air parcels increased in height in the lower to mid-levels was not conducive to seeding. No seeding. 9 September: Dry air continued to remain over the target area and convection was not conducive for operations. Additionally, the National Weather Service radar was not functioning due to scheduled maintenance. No seeding. 30 September: National Weather Service Radar was still under maintenance. Additionally, dry air remained firmly in place in the middle and upper levels of the atmosphere. No seeding.

5 0..05 Monthly Report September 05 Pg.5 September mission Widespread convection in association with a tropical wave provided the opportunity for operations in the Rio de la Plata and Rio Grande de Loiza watersheds. Seeding operations commenced at 5:33Z and concluded at 5:5Z. Green vector lines show the aircraft flight path. 0:04 3 Reflectivity shows cloud tops of 6.6km at 5:35Z, September 05 in the target area just prior to seeding. Increased reflectivity of 9.6 km is seen immediately after seeding in the target area as of 6:5Z for September 05.

6 0..05 Monthly Report September 05 Pg.6 4 September mission Upper level trough provided the atmosphere with high levels of moisture. Seeding operations commenced at 8:36Z. SOAR successfully targeted showers throughout the Rio de la Plata watershed. Operations concluded at 0:Z. Radar estimated rainfall was between -3 inches. Green vector lines show the aircraft flight path. 0:36 5 Radar reflectivity before seeding shows cloud tops at 9.6km in the western portion of target area. 5 Radar reflectivity after seeding shows cloud tops at.9km in the western portion of the Rio de la Plata Watershed. -3 inches of rainfall was estimated in the target area.

7 0..05 Monthly Report September 05 Pg.7 5 September missions 0:06 Mission and : A weak tropical wave produced suitable clouds for seeding in the Rio de la Plata watershed. Operations commenced at 6:43 UTC and concluded at 7:38 UTC. Atmospheric setup was the same for a second mission where SOAR commenced operations at 9:56 UTC and concluded at 0:34 UTC in the Rio de la Plata watershed. Radar estimates of up to inch of rainfall were measured. Target area is shown as the polygon shape outline in red. 4 0 Radar estimates of rainfall in the target area for 5 September 05 show upwards of inch locally or more in the western portion of the Rio de la Plata Watershed as of 0:5 UTC.

8 0..05 Monthly Report September 05 Pg.8 7 September mission 0:8 0 SOAR operations commenced at 5:46 UTC and concluded at 7:4 UTC. Two flares were burned over the Rio Grande de Loiza portion of the target area. Sea breeze convergence produced enough of a lifting mechanism to provide morning convection with a 5.km top. A dominant ridge in the upper levels of the atmosphere propagated into the region and suppresed convection in target area during the afternoon hours. Reflectivity shows cloud tops at 4.4 km in the Rio Grande de Loiza Watershed at 5:57 UTC. The target area is outlined in a red polygon. Radar estimates of rainfall in the target area for the Rio Grande de Loiza Watershed were near 0.75 inches locally as of 6:56 UTC. The target area is outlined in a red polygon.

9 0..05 Monthly Report September 05 Pg.9 September mission September Shallow convection was enhanced by the remnants of Tropical Storm Grace. Ample amounts of moisture was conducive to an increase shower activity. Rio Grande de Loiza and Rio de la Plata Watersheds were seeded. Operations commenced at 7:0 UTC and concluded at 9: UTC. 0 flares total were burned. 0:5 7 3 Clouds tops in the target area can be seen ranging from 5.km to 7.4km prior to seeding operations at 7:7 UTC on September 05. During operations, the green transects show the flight track in the target area while approaching convection. In the NW corner of the target, a seeded convective event now has cloud tops of 0.4km at 8:05 UTC.

10 0..05 Monthly Report September 05 Pg.0 September missions 0:37 9 hygroscopic flares Mission and : Moderate strength tropical wave passed over Puerto Rico and resulted in widespread convection over the target area during the early afternoon. Rio de Bayamon to Rio Hondo, Rio Grande de Loiza, and Rio de la Plata Watersheds were seeded. Cloud tops ranged from 8 to 0.4 km. Operations commenced for Mission at 7:35 UTC and concluded for at :5 UTC for Mission. Reflectivity of a 0.4 km cloud top can be seen to the NW of the target area for a convective thunderstorms that were seeded while still inside of the target area. Image is from September 05 at 8:46 UTC. Radar estimates from radar show rainfall totals in a majority of the target area after missions between - inches. The target area is outlined in red.

11 0..05 Monthly Report September 05 Pg. September 4 missions 0: Mission and : Sea breeze convergence combined with low -level moisture enhanced the thundershower activity. Fast moving convection was successfully seeded during two missions, and rainfall totals of up to inch were estimated. Rio Grande de Loiza and Rio de la Plata Watersheds were seeded. Operations commenced at 8:35 UTC and concluded at :35 UTC. Target cloud can be seen with a 5.km cloud top during the convective event in the NW corner of the target area on 4 September 05 at :49 UTC. Convection remained shallow. Radar estimates of rainfall can be seen at 3:49 UTC on 4 September 05 of inch locally in the target area.

12 0..05 Monthly Report September 05 Pg. September 5 missions 0:36 0 hygroscopic flares Mission and : Tropical wave entered the region and produced convection. Two successful seeding operations were conducted. Rainfall estimates for the day were up to.5 inches. Rio Grande de Loiza and Rio de la Plata Watersheds were seeded. Operations began at 5:56 UTC and concluded after the second mission at 9:4 UTC. Radar reflectivity at 6:46 UTC on 5 September 05. These convective events were seeded in the Rio de la Plata Watershed. Radar rainfall estimates are shown as of 0: UTC on 5 September 05 in the target area. The target area is outlined in red, and show estimates between and.5 inches of rainfall.

13 0..05 Monthly Report September 05 Pg.3 September 8 mission High levels of moisture were present with a through at upper levels of the atmosphere. Surface low over Hispaniola, upper level trough, and sea breeze convergence provided sufficient atmospheric dynamics for convection. Rio Grande de Loiza and Rio de la Plata Watersheds seeded. Operations commenced at 6:5 UTC and concluded at 8:00 UTC. 0: Radar reflectivity at 6:44 UTC on 8 September 05 shows both a 5.9km and 8.9km convective cloud top that were seeded during operations. The flight path telemetry is outlined by the green vectored line. Radar reflectivity shows estimated rainfall at + inch locally in the Rio Grande de Loiza Watershed at 9:4 UTC on 8 September 05.

14 0..05 Monthly Report September 05 Pg.4 September 9 missions Short lived convection develop in low level moisture and a weak sea breeze. Dry air entrained into the upper levels from a nearby Bermuda High later in the day, causing subsidence and warming of the atmosphere. Rio de la Plata Watershed was seeded. Operations commenced at 9:07 UTC and concluded at 0:05 UTC. 0:03 0 Radar reflectivity of a 7.4km and 5.9 km convective cloud tops are shown prior to seeding at 8:35 UTC on 9 September 05, in the Rio de la Plata Watershed. Operations commenced within 30 minutes of development of these slow moving convective clouds. Radar estimates of rainfall in the Rio de la Plata Watershed as of 0:46 UTC on 9 September 05. The estimates of up to + inch locally are shown after seeding operations were concluded for the target area.

15 0..05 Monthly Report September 05 Pg.5 September 0 missions 0:6 3 Mission and : Convergence associated with the sea breeze effect north of the San Juan region provided enough low level atmospheric forcing to cause convection. Semi-stationary convection was the result in the Rio de la Plata Watershed being seeded. Mission commenced with a reconnaissance at 6:33 UTC and mission two concluded at 0:8 UTC. Radar reflectivity shows a 6.6 km convective cloud top at 8:48 UTC on 0 September 05 during the second mission of the day. The cloud was seeded in the Rio de la Plata Watershed. 0 Radar estimates show rainfall between - inches in the Rio de la Plata Watershed region of the target area at 0:9 UTC on 0 September 05.

16 0..05 Monthly Report September 05 Pg.6 September missions Sea breeze convection, wind shear through the mid-levels of the atmosphere, and an upper level disturbance brought in low level moisture. Radar estimates of between -3 inches of rainfall occurred on slow-moving convection. Rio de la Plata Watershed was seeded. Operations commenced at 5:0 UTC and concluded at 7:33 UTC. 0:3 6 Radar reflectivity shows a semi-stationary convective 8.km cloud top that produced a high amount of rainfall during and after a seeding operation at 6:54 UTC on September Radar estimates of rainfall between -3 inches in the Rio de la Plata Watershed at 7:5 UTC on September 05.

17 0..05 Monthly Report September 05 Pg.7 September 3 missions 0: See breeze convergence combined with an upper air disturbance provided deep moisture through the middle levels of the atmosphere. Additionally, enhanced wind shear provided persistent, slow moving convection. Radar estimates up to 6 inches of rainfall were measured. Rio de la Plata Watershed seeded. Operations commenced at 6:4 UTC and concluded at 9:49 UTC. Radar reflectivity shows a convective cloud top of 7. km centered outside of the target area and reaching into the northwest corner of the Rio de la Plata Watershed at 7:59 UTC on 3 September 05. Daily operations had concluded at this time. Radar estimates show that the slow moving convection produced more than 6+ inches of rainfall. The time of this radar product is 0:0 UTC on 3 September 05.