|
Media Advisory 06-018
Scientists Discuss Early Results of RAINEX Hurricane Intensity Project
Flights into storms' eyewalls and rainbands help to better forecast hurricane intensity
June 22, 2006
Scientists flew into the eyes of Hurricanes Katrina, Ophelia and Rita last summer, as part of a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded project called RAINEX, the Rainband and Intensity Change Experiment.
Scientists Robert Houze of the University of Washington and Shuyi Chen of the University of Miami will discuss early results from RAINEX, including findings that concentrated pockets of fast-rotating air within a hurricane's eyewall and rainbands feed the storm and strengthen its winds.
Their measurements of a hurricane's eyewall and outer rainbands have led to new insights on improving high-resolution modeling of hurricanes, and making better forecasts of how quickly a hurricane's intensity may change.
RAINEX used three Doppler radar-equipped aircraft, aided by high-resolution numerical modeling. The experiment was the first time aircraft flights into a hurricane were directed from crews on the ground in real time.
The storms investigated were in all stages of development, from tropical depression to a category 5 hurricane. Observations of Hurricane Ophelia provided a first-ever look at what scientists call the "convective burst phenomenon" that marks the initial stages of a hurricane's formation. The researchers flew into Hurricane Rita during what's known as an eyewall replacement cycle, which is key to understanding the interaction of eyewalls and rainbands and the relationship of those interactions to rapid storm intensity changes.
|
WHO:
|
Atmospheric scientists Robert Houze and Shuyi Chen
|
|
WHAT:
|
Lecture: Aircraft Observations and Modeling of Hurricanes Katrina, Ophelia and Rita
|
|
WHERE:
|
Room 110
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22230
|
|
WHEN:
|
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
|
-NSF-
Media Contacts
Cheryl Dybas, NSF (703) 292-7734 cdybas@nsf.gov
Related Websites
RAINEX Experiment: http://www.joss.ucar.edu/rainex/
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that
supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and
engineering, with an annual budget of $6.06 billion. NSF funds reach all 50
states through grants to over 1,900 universities and institutions. Each year,
NSF receives about 45,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes over
11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in
professional and service contracts yearly.
 Get News Updates by Email
Useful NSF Web Sites:
NSF Home Page: http://www.nsf.gov
NSF News: http://www.nsf.gov/news/
For the News Media: http://www.nsf.gov/news/newsroom.jsp
Science and Engineering Statistics: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/
Awards Searches: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/
| 
