Investigation of the Inflow Boundary Layer of Atlantic Hurricances

Dr. Steven Businger, Primary Investigator, Dept. of Meteorology, University of Hawaii





Fig. 2. Sketch of the proposed fourth generation smart balloon illustrating primary components and instrument shielding.
Goals:
  • To explore the structure of the hurricane boundary layer (BL) during landfall using WSR-88D radar data using a novel instrumented "smart" balloon with buoyancy control.

Co-Investigators:
  • Gary Barnes, University of Hawaii

Funding:
$197,000 (plus $270,067 to NOAA)

Contact:
businger@hawaii.edu (808) 956-2569

Expected Results:
  • Increase understanding of the energy transfer from the ocean to the atmosphere in the hurricane environment.
Importance:
  • Development of hurricane balloon will be a major technological advance for collection of data in hurricanes.
  • Project will increase the accuracy of surface energy flux estimates used in hurricane numerical models. These models are one of the primary resources for hurricane forecasting
Project Schedule:
Effort       (Month)
1-6
7-12
13-18
18-24
Create database of secondary circulation characteristics
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Examine VAD profiles
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Comparison between LES Modeling and statistical results
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Implement momentum flux calculations into hurricane models
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