Sun, Sep 26, 2004
Six insertions into the eye of the hurricane provide wealth of
data
NOAA hurricane researchers flew into the eye of Hurricane Jeanne
on Wednesday to gather data about the storm that is currently
churning in the open Atlantic Ocean packing sustained winds near
105 mph. The scientists flew on the NOAA WP-3D Orion hurricane
hunter aircraft at an altitude of 7,000 feet during the afternoon
and early evening hours. The NOAA aircraft penetrated the eye of
Hurricane Jeanne six times.
Scientists with the NOAA Hurricane Research Division said the
large eye was remarkably clear aloft and well organized. Low
clouds, most of which were stratocumulus below about 3,000 feet,
filled most of the eye with an occasional cumulus extending up to
or just above our flight-level.
NOAA scientists said an interesting aspect of the flight was the
sea surface temperature field in the storm and to the west. SSTs in
the eye and eyewall of Jeanne were about 79 degrees F (26 degrees
C), probably a result of mixing from the slow-moving storm. The sea
warmed to nearly 83 degrees F (28 degrees C) from 200-400 miles to
the west of Jeanne's position Wednesday afternoon.
The NOAA Hurricane Research Division scientists speculated that
the cooler SSTs were keeping Jeanne from intensifying
significantly, and the dryer air was being kept away from the inner
core.
NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national
safety through the prediction and research of weather and
climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of
the nation’s coastal and marine resources. NOAA is part of
the U.S. Department of Commerce.
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