Shipboard Radar Observations of Precipitating Convection in EPIC2001

Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO

Investigators

Abstract

EPIC (Eastern Pacific Investigation of Climate processes in the coupled ocean-atmosphere system) is an activity of the US Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) Program. EPIC 2001 consists of four components focussing on (i) intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) warm pool phenomena; (ii) cross-equatorial inflow into the ITCZ; (iii) upper ocean structure and mixing; and (iv) an exploratory study of boundary layer cloud properties in the southeasterly tradewind regime. The field phase of EPIC 2001 is scheduled for a 6-week period during the interval Sept 1 to Oct 15, 2001. In addition to the eight awards made by the Division of Atmospheric Sciences, this collaborative research has awards by NSF's Division of Ocean Sciences and NOAA's Office of Global Programs. During the field phase, the PIs will collect data aboard R/V Ron Brown, both ship-based soundings and C-Band Doppler radar. These will be used to examine the vertical and horizontal structure of rainfall and ITCZ convection and its variability as a function of synoptic conditions. The requisite data will be collected to examine the diurnal cycle of convection and precipitation. The PIs will also examine the relationship between the boundary layer recharging through latent and sensible heat fluxes as a function of convective organization. The work is important because it will provide new insights about convection in the undersampled eastern tropical Pacific.