ACE-1 Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Daily Operations Report

Day: 343 (9 December 1995)

Todays Operations:

Flight #25, the second Lagrangian mission was completed at 0400 LDT (1700 UTC, 8 Dec) this morning. All three balloons were tracked and a good set of circular stacks was flown. Flight #26, the third Lagrangian flight, flew on schedule with a 0630 LDT takeoff. Again all three balloons were tracked and a complete set of stack flights was carried out. The flight was completed at 1530 LDT (0430 UTC). Discoverer departed Lagrangian launch position at 0100 UTC (1200 LDT) today and is sampling seawater along the Lagrangian trajectory path. Southern Surveyor ended its cruise at 0600 LDT, 8 Dec (1900 UTC, 7 Dec). Cape Grim and Macquarie Island continue normal operations. NOTICE*** Only a 2:00 p.m. Planning will be held Sunday, 10 Dec.

Mission Plan: 
  Primary Mission :   None
  Alternate Mission:  None 
  Future Mission(s):  Possible Cumulus Outflow Misssion Monday

Aircraft Operations
  
  Take-off Time: 
     N/A

  Pre-flight Weather Briefing Time: 
     N/A
  
  Updates:
     N/A

  Airborne Mission Scientist:
     N/A
                         
  Mission Scientist: 
     N/A   

Ship Operations
  Discoverer:
Discoverer departed Lagrangian launch position at 0100 UTC, 9 Dec
and will sample along Lagrangian track as long as sea conditions
permit. See catalog reference below for detailed instrument
status.  
    
     Discoverer Lead Scientist: Tim Bates   

  Southern Surveyor:
     Southern Surveyor has completed its cruise and is in port in
Hobart.
   
   Southern Surveyor Lead Scientist: Bronte Tilbrook

Systems Status:

Aircraft:: See catalog entry for detailed aircraft systems status.
Discoverer:: See catalog entry for detailed Discoverer system status and instrumentation measurements.
Cape Grim:: See catalog entry for detailed Cape Grim systems status.
Macquarie Island:: See catalog entry for detailed Macquarie Island systems status.

Forecast and Relevant Analyses

24 hour MSL P Prognosis is here

48 hour MSL P Prognosis is here

72 hour MSL P Prognosis is here

Latest Visible Sat Picture is here

Surface Wind 24-h forecast is here

GASP trajectory analysis is here

ACE-1 FORECAST

Forecaster: Alasdair Hainsworth

No official forecast was prepared for 9 December. The outlooks from 8 December are included below:

Prognoses:

0-48 hours: A strong, cold SW stream is forecast to develop in the wake of the low and cold front complex, with further fronts likely to develop and move through the ACE area on Saturday night and Sunday. The vigorous west to southwest stream may tend more northwesterly on Monday ahead of another front to cross the area early Tuesday, with strong, cold west to southwesterlies to follow.

FORECASTS FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY:

Cape Grim: Weather: The chance of a little overnight or early drizzle otherwise fine until some light rain develops tomorrow afternoon, tending to showers tomorrow night behind a colder SW change. Periods of reduced visibility in smoke if someone tries to barbeque the station again. Wind: Winds shifting E/NE'ly tonight and increasing to 20/25 knots. Winds possibly reaching 30 knots tmorrow morning before easing slightly ahead of a 15/25knots west to northwest change. Outlook Sunday: Showers and west to southwest winds 25/35 knots.

Macquarie Island: Weather: A few light showers tonight but a mainly fine day tomorrow, although low cloud may possibly lower to fog at times later. Drizzle developing tomorrow night. Wind: North to northwest winds 15/25 knots increasing to 25/30 knots tomorrow.

Outlook Sunday: Drizzle increasing to rain. North to northwest winds possibly reaching 30/40 knots.

R/V Discoverer Weather: Some light rain developing tomorrow, more likely in the afternoon if you are east of 145E. Rain increasing tomorrow night near the front. Wind: North to northwest winds increasing to 15/25 knots overnight and 25/35 knots tomorrow with a further strengthening to 35/45 knots possible late in the day ahead of a west to southwest change of similar strength tomorrow night. Strong squalls with the front. 1 to 2 metre seas increasing to 4 to 6 metres later tomorrow. West to northwest increasing to 3 to 4 metres tomorrow and possibly 4 to 6 metres tomorrow night.

Outlook Sunday: Chiefly westerly winds easing to 25/35 knots, turning southwesterly during the afternoon. Seas mostly around 4 metres. Southwest swell to 5 metres. Cold with showers, possibly of hail following the front.

SCIENTIFIC ISSUES AND DISCUSSION

Reporter: Barry Huebert

Lagrangian Mission was successful and completed with Flight #26. All three balloons were tracked and remained in formation during the flight. Complete report and details to follow on 10 December 1995.