Case of June 29-30, 1999

Dropsonde Jet

Lear Jet: (model 35A?)

Ceiling: ~ 43,000 Feet (roughly 30 min to 37,000 ft.)

Duration: 6 hours; option to refuel at alternate airport

Air Speed: ~450 knots (could be less if desired)

4 seats on the plane

Dropsondes

450 total

Drops up to 8 per hour (~80 km)

40,000 feet downward

30+ drops per mission

4 in the air at once

No drops over population centers

Drops on straight tracks

Scalable tracks

Jet Flight Tracks

19 June, 2002 MCV

11-12 June, 2001 MCS

BAMEX Deployment Strategies

Planning for dropsonde aircraft

Science Staffing

Dropsonde operator (on jet)

Operator assistant (on jet)

Dropsonde coordinator (Ops Center)

monitor weather

derive and communicate end points

drops at regular intervals subject to

FAA restrictions

Population Centers

Optimizing dropsonde spacing

Backups of all positions (assuming double-crew)