Studies on structure and formation/development Mechanisms of Mesoscale Convective Systems

- Observation plan of Baiu front over Kyushu and East China Sea in 1999 (X-BAIU-99) -

Masanori Yoshizaki
Meteorological Research Institute, Japan Meteorological Agency, Japan

1. Objectives of X-BAIU-99

• Study of inner structure of MCSs and their formation/development mechanisms in the Baiu season.
• Study of environmental fields of MCSs and multi-scale structure.
  
• Ground validation of TRMM with ground-based radar.
  
• Application of NHMs to heavy rainfall events.
  
• Study of temporal and spatial variations of physical quantities, in particular, moisture, in/around MCSs.
  

2. Participants:

• Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
• MRI
• Communications Research Laboratory (CRL)
• NASDA
• National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NRIESDP)
• Hokkaido University - Graduate School of Science (HU-S)
• Hokkaido University ? Low Temperature Science Institute (HU-LTSI)
• Center for Environmental Remote Sensing (CEReS)- Chiba University
• University of Tokyo - Ocean Research Institute (ORI)
• Institute for Hydrospheric-Atmospheric Sciences, Nagoya University (IHAS)
• Radio Atmospheric Science Center, Kyoto University (RASC)
• Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University (DPRI)
• Osaka Electro-Communication University (OECU)
• Kagoshima University (KU)
  

3.Details of observations:

• Observation periods:
  • Usual observation period (UOP); 00UTC 15 June - 00UTC 15 July.
  • Intensive observation period (IOP); 15UTC 26 June - 15UTC 6 July.
• Observation systems:
  Total observations are made by two parts;
  
  • ground-based observations
  • airplane observations.

  Ground-based observations:

  • JMA observation vessels: (IOP)
    Keifu-maru (128.0E,31.0�|30.5N), Chofu-maru (128.0E,32.5�|32.0N),
    Seifu-maru (129.0E,34.0N), Shumpu-maru (133.5E,32.33N).
    Upper sounding; 4 times/day. (8 times/day in heavy precipitation cases)
    PPI radar: Keifu-maru.
    Microwave radiometer; Keifu-maru [CEReS].
    
  • JMA operational upper sounding (Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Naze) : (IOP)
    Upper sounding; 4 times/day.
    
  • Nagashima Town; (UOP)
    Upper sounding; [MRI]
    
    • 2 times/day during the UOP and 4 times/day during the IOP.
      
    • 8 times/day observations are done when heavy precipitation happens.
      
    • All observed data are routinely reported into JMA-NAPS.
      
    Doppler radar; [HU-LTSI]
    BLR; [RASC/OECU]
    Microwave radiometer; [MRI]
    GPS; [MRI]
    Surface meteorological system; [MRI]
    
  • Sendai City: (UOP)
    Doppler radar; [NASDA]
    Microwave radiometer; [NASDA]
    GPS; [KU]
    Surface meteorological system; [NASDA]
    
  • Fukiage Town; (UOP)
    Doppler radar; [HU-S]
    BLR; [CRL]
    GPS; [KU]
    Surface meteorological system; [MRI/HU-S]
    
  • Minamitane Town; (IOP)
    Upper sounding; [ORI/MRI]
    
    • 4 times/day.
      
    • 8 times/day observations are done when heavy precipitation happens.
      
    • All observed data are routinely reported into JMA-NAPS.
      
    Surface meteorological system; [ORI]
    
  • Koshiki Islands;
    Upper sounding; [DPRI] (24 June - 30 June)
    
    • Irregular observations
      
    Surface meteorological system; [DPRI]
    PPI radar; [DPRI]
    GPS; [DPRI]
    Raindrop measurement; [HU-S] (UOP)
    
    
  • When TRMM passes over the surface network and there are precipitation systems, additional observation will be made.
    

  Airplane observations:

  • Observation period is from 14 June to 10 July, including preparation.
    
  • Airplane observations are made by two parts; cloud probe mission and dynamic mission. In the cloud probe mission, direct measurements of inner structure in the clouds are aimed at. In the dynamic mission, environmental dynamic fields around the precipitation systems are measured.
    
  • Cloud probe mission: 14 June - 25 June
    GS | U (Cloud radar (SPIDAR)) [HU-S/CRL]
    B200 (Probe) [MRI]
    
  • Dynamic mission: 27 June - 6 July
    Citation X (Dropsonde, microwave radiometer) [IHAS/MRI/CEReS/NRIESDP]
    B200 Precipitation radar (CAMPR) [CRL]
    

4. Data archive:

• Most observation data (upper sounding, Doppler radar, and so on) are archived (CD-ROM) by MRI until January 2000, and delivered to all participants.
• JMA operational data (operational radar, AMeDAS, surface meteorological stations and so on) are collected by MRI.

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