A Dropsonde System in Support of Office of Naval Research Objectives for Arctic Research

Abstract

Funds are provided for acquisition of a system of dropsondes for use in an ONR-sponsored field campaign associated with a Departmental Research Initiative (DRI) on Arctic meteorology. The dropsondes will be deployed in during field campaigns taking place during 2021-2022. The PI is requesting 400 dropsondes from each vendor, which will be selected depending on the aircraft that is used (potential aircraft have different dispensers). The dropsondes will allow 3-D in-situ observations of thermodynamics and winds that are generally lacking in the Arctic. This situation limits our ability to evaluate and improve atmospheric and coupled Arctic modeling and data assimilation systems of relevance to ONR. The dropsonde humidity measurements, coupled with planned airborne remote sensing of clouds, will fill gaps in our understanding of the lifecycle, predictability and structure of Arctic cyclones. They will also provide an accurate characterization of near-surface winds and thermodynamics critical to advancing our knowledge of the mechanisms by which Arctic cyclones cause rapid ice-loss events.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Jun 17, 2020
Source ID
N000142012301

Entities

People

  • David Parsons

Organizations

  • Office of Naval Research
  • United States Navy
  • University of Oklahoma

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers
  • Polar and Arctic Studies