Abstract:

A flight on NOAA's WP-3D Orion aircraft was conducted during tropical cyclone Isaac on 16 August 2012 over the northeastern Gulf of Mexico (from approximately 24 to 29 N and 84 to 90 W), over the Loop Current (LC) and associated frontal eddies. Airborne expendable probes measured atmospheric and oceanic parameters.

Suggested Citation:

Shay, Lynn. 2014. Tropical Cyclone Issac Ocean Profiles from 16 August 2012.. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7XK8CHZ

Publications:

Jaimes, B., & Shay, L. K. (2015). Enhanced Wind-Driven Downwelling Flow in Warm Oceanic Eddy Features during the Intensification of Tropical Cyclone Isaac (2012): Observations and Theory. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 45(6), 1667–1689. doi:10.1175/jpo-d-14-0176.1

Jaimes, B., Shay, L. K., & Brewster, J. K. (2016). Observed air-sea interactions in tropical cyclone Isaac over Loop Current mesoscale eddy features. Dynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans. doi:10.1016/j.dynatmoce.2016.03.001

Purpose:

To determine the effect of seasonal currents, topography, and episodic oceanographic or atmospheric drivers on the transport of oil, hydrocarbon gases, sediments, and organisms from a source to sea floor and pelagic environments in the Gulf of Mexico.

Data Parameters and Units:

1. SoundFiles: YYYYMMDD[Aircraft ID][channel number][sequential record number].WAV-- 63 bathythermographs AXBT, 41 current-temperature profilers AXCP, and 56 conductivity-temperature-depth profilers AXCTD. 2. Step 1,2,3 Post-Processed Profile Files: [AXBT, AXCP, AXCTD]_YYYYMMDD[Aircraft ID]_[drop point number of the sampling grid].[data processing level 'step' 1,2,or3]-- Temperature [AXBT, AXCP, and AXCTD], salinity (AXCTD), and current (AXCP) profiles were smoothed to form 2-meter vertical profiles. Level 3 quality controlled profiles are recommended for scientific analysis and publications. with header data: filename, probe serial number, year day number (fraction), latitude, longitude. AXBT Files: depth (meters), temperature (C). AXCP Files: depth (meters), temperature (C), meridional velocity component (cm/s, positive northward). AXCTD Files: depth (meters), temperature (C), conductivity (mS/cm microSiemens per centimeter). 3. Dropwindsounde Files: D_YYYYMMDD_hhmmss[.txt (raw), .eol (level 1), .int (level 2)]-- 62 atmospheric dropwindsondes .int images with header data: Altitude (meters), Pressure (mb), Meridional wind velocity (meters/second), Zonal wind velocity (meters/second), Wind speed (meters/second), Air temperature (Kelvin), Mixing ratio, Saturation mixing ratio, Potential temperature (Kelvin), Equivalent potential temperature (Kelvin), Wind direction (degrees).

Individual Files: