HR: 0800h
AN: A21C-0641    [Abstracts]
TI: High-Resolution Radiosonde Measurements from Cape Verde: Details of Easterly Wave Passage
AU: * Schmidlin, F J
EM: francis.j.schmidlin@nasa.gov
AF: NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA 23337, United States
AU: Morrison, B
EM: brian.morrison@atscwx.com
AF: SSAI, Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA 23337, United States
AU: Baldwin, T M
EM: tony.m.baldwin@nasa.gov
AF: NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA 23337, United States
AU: Northam, E T
EM: Northam@osb.wff.nasa.gov
AF: SSAI, Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA 23337, United States
AU: Gerlach, J
EM: gerlach@osb1.wff.nasa.gov
AF: NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA 23337, United States
AB: The NASA African Monsoon Multi-disciplinary Analyses (NAMMA) mission took place from Cape Verde, approximately 600 km west of Dakar, Senegal between August 15 and September 14, 2006. Aircraft and ground- based measurements were staged from the island of Sal while a large number of radiosondes were released from Praia, on the island of Sao Tiago 150 km south of Sal. High-resolution GPS equipped radiosondes provided measurements of temperature, relative humidity, and wind at a vertical resolution of 4-6 meters every 4 hours from Cape Verde Islands. The high vertical- and temporal- resolution of the measurements effectively captured significant features of convection and easterly wave processes. West African-originating easterly waves were observed to develop to the south of Cape Verde as they move westward over the southern Atlantic Ocean. Time series of temperature, water vapor, and wind available during the 28-day mission are discussed. Five waves were observed during their passage; two depressions developed into tropical cyclones and three did not. Differences in their development are presented. Examples are provided that discuss methods used to detect wave passage, the effect of the Saharan Air Layer, and daily energy distribution. Data were distributed to all NAMMA participants and are available at http://msfc.nasa.gov.
DE: 0350 Pressure, density, and temperature
DE: 0394 Instruments and techniques
DE: 3314 Convective processes
DE: 3374 Tropical meteorology
DE: 9325 Atlantic Ocean
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting