Abstract:

Data from a flight on NOAA's WP-3D Orion aircraft was conducted during tropical cyclone Isaac on 30 August 2012 over the northeastern Gulf of Mexico (from approximately 25 to 29.5 N and 84 to 89.5 W), over the Loop Current (LC) and associated frontal eddies. Airborne expendable probes measured atmospheric and oceanic parameters.

Suggested Citation:

Shay, Lynn. 2015. Tropical Cyclone Issac Ocean Profiles from 30 August 2012.. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7P26W3P

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). Missing .eol file indicates no quality controlled (QC) profile was obtained during the first step of the QC process. Missing .int file indicates no quality controlled (QC) profile was obtained during the second and final step of the QC process.

Individual Files: