PACJET Projects |
HMT 2004
PACJET 2003
PACJET 2002
PACJET 2001
CALJET 1998
|
Resources |
GPS Realtime Water Vapor
GWINDEX
West Coast RUC
ETL Profiler Network
Press Materials
|
Background |
About Pacjet
CALJET Summary
Societal Impacts and User Input
Linkages to National Priorities
USWRP
Data Assimilation Implementation Plan
March 2001 Program Status Report
PACJET 2001 Poster
NSSL Briefing
|
Program Documents |
PACJET and a Long-term Effort
to Improve 0-24 h West Coast Forecasts
Overview Poster
|
Research Participants |
NOAA Research
ETL,
NSSL,
FSL,
AL,
CDC
National Weather Service Western Region
Eureka,
Hanford,
Medford,
Monterey,
Oxnard,
Portland,
Reno,
Sacramento,
San Diego,
Seattle,
CNFRC
Office of Marine and Aviation Operations
AOC
Naval Postgradute School
DRI CIASTA
CIRES
SUNY Stony Brook
National Centers for Environmental Prediction
EMC,
HPC,
MPC
National Environmental Satellite, Data
and Information Service
CIMSS,
CIRA
|
Operational Forecasting Components |
COMET Presentation
West Coast RUC
Aircraft Obs via AWIPS
GWINDEX Poster
Applications Development
|
Research Components |
Modeling Research Components
|
Related Experiments |
Winter Storm Reconnaissance (Central Pac.)
CRPAQS (CA Air Quality)
IMPROVE (Microphysics)
THORPEX (Synoptic Targeting)
|
Observing Systems |
AEROSONDE
NOAA P-3
Wind Profiler Network
Satellite Products
NOAA S-band Radar
|
Contacts |
Program
Media Contacts
Webmaster
|
Workshops |
2001 - Monterey, CA
July 13-14 2000 (Boulder, CO)
July Workshop Agenda
September 1999 - Monterey, CA
1999 Planning Workshop Figures
June 1998 - CALJET
|
|
Click for larger image
|
The Pacific Jets Experiment (PACJET) is operating off the US West Coast during the
winter of 2001. With a mission to improve short-term forecasts and severe weather warnings,
PACJET has both operational and research components. Operationally, PACJET will observe
incoming frontal systems to improve forecasts during the February-March Pacific Storm
season. Research flights will make detailed measurements of coastal dynamics which
will be used to refine weather models and improve satellite data interpretation. This
map shows the areas in which PACJET will be focusing its observation. Intensive Observation
Periods (IOPs) are times at which detailed observations will be taken by observers in a number
of locations.
|
Click for larger image
|
This schematic shows a typical flight plan for a PACJET mission. Daily
weather briefings are held by National Weather Service forecasters to
project the location of the storm. Researchers and forecasters
plot a flight track to intercept the storm. Maneuvers
for each segment are detailed in the legend. The details of the maneuver
are shown below.
|
Click for larger image
|
This figure shows one of the complex flight patterns which the P3 pilots will fly
to observe a storm. The low level jet, shown in blue, is a feature of storms
which enhances rainfall. Flying through the jet, researchers relay information
about the strength, position and timing of the storm. Forecasters will use this
information to improve the daily forecast and issue more accurate warnings.
Flying into the storm front, the P3 will fly ascending and descending spirals to
measure the winds, temperature and humidity. Dropsondes, instruments which
measure windspeed, temperature and humidity will be dropped into the front from
high altitude. Both these measurements are used by modelers and forecasters to
better understand the storm.
|
|