CAMEX-3 was the third in a series of NASA-sponsored field experiments known as the Convection And Moisture EXperiment(CAMEX). In collaboration with NOAA and the USAF, CAMEX-3 was based out of Patrick Air Force Base, Florida and took place from 6 August to 23 September, 1998. The goal of CAMEX-3, flown in tandem with the TRMM TEFLUN (TExas and FLoride UNderflights) Experiment, was to collect high-spatial and -temporal resolution data to be used for the research and modeling of tropical cyclones and hurricanes. During the experiment, several instrumented NASA aircraft, including the DC-8 and ER-2, were able to fly missions into Hurricanes Bonnie, Danielle, Earl and Georges. These flights yielded high spatial and temporal information that have previously been unobtainable and will be used by many investigators to study the development, environmental flow, intensification, landfall, tracking and prediction of tropical storms and hurricanes. Among the instruments taking part in CAMEX-3 were wind-sounding lasers (MACAWS), moisture and aerosol profiling lildars (LASE), lightning detectors, radars, microwave humidity and temperature sensors, and dropsondes.
GoalsUnder funding from the NASA's Earth Science Enterprise, SWA worked together with several modeling groups (CSU, FSU, GSFC) to identify both the CAMEX-3 instrument data and optimum case studies (i.e., Hurrincane Bonnie landfall mission) to use in conducting model sensitivity tests of tropical storm/Hurrican forecast using CAMEX-3 data. Working together with CSU, another goal is the compiling and coordinating of a data set containing the CAMEX-3 data that can be best used by atmospheric modelers to simulate and conduct sensitivity tests on tropical cyclones. In addition, another goal of this study will be to place the data in a common data format such as HDF( see SWA's HDF Page for more information on HDF).
The third part of SWA's involvement in CAMEX-3 is to work together with Colorado State University (Drs. Pielke and Nicholls) on model sensitivity tests of Hurricanes Bonnie and Daniele using the CSU RAMS model and CAMEX-3 Dropsonde, MACAWS, and LASE data. SWA will be attempting to analyze the CAMEX-3 MACAWS data and performing lidar simulation studies (for spaces-based lidars) for various case studies.
For a detailed description of the CAMEX-3 field campaign including an overview of the aircraft and instrumentation, instrument contacts, flight plans, mission descriptions, summaries and results of the aircraft missions, and preliminary browse images from certain instruments, please check out the NASA CAMEX-3 Homepage.
Data Availability for Modeling ActivitiesPrincipal Investigators for the CAMEX-3 Instrument teams have completed the processing of the data. The Global Hydrology Resource Center (GHRC) at NASA Marshall's Global Hydrology and Climate Center is responsibe for providing the archival and distribution of CAMEX-3 data and should be contacted about the availability and distribution of CAMEX-3 data.
Using information gathered from the NASA CAMEX-3 Homepage, and additional information/spreadsheets from the GHRC, we have repackaged and put in the table below, a preliminary listing/inventory of the CAMEX-3 flight missions, including date, type of mission, and availability of various aircraft.
Although talks with atmospheric modelers will continue, the discussions that have taken place to date point to the CAMEX-3 data taken from MACAWS, LASE, AVAPS Dropsondes, and PSR as being of most interest to the modeling community. The table below shows when these instruments were operational and collecting data during the CAMEX-3 field campaign. Once again, this modified table was created using information supplied by the GHRC and members of the the individual instrument teams.
The initial case study selected for the nestedRAMS model sensitivity tests using CAMEX-3 data is Hurricane Bonnie during the time period of August 21-26, 1998. Work is currently underway in trying to incorpoarate both NASA and NOAA Dropsonde data (temperature, winds, moisture) and specific humidity profiles from LASE into the model simulation. However, the first step to try and simulate Hurrican Bonnie using NCEP Global Spectral Model fields as initial conditions and by prescribing a vortex to represent the Hurricane.
A model run was inintated on 21 Aug 1998 at 12Z with a vortex prescribed into the large scale field to represent Bonnie. The model run generated the Hurrican in close proximity and intensity to the real Hurricane Bonnie. The following figures illustrate the wind fields, pressure and wind (fine grid), pressure and wind (coarse grid), and cloud mixing ration.
Other CAMEX Related Pages
The following pages contain general and instrument information pertaining to CAMEX-3.
| This page managed by Steve Greco | Last modified: 05 Jan. 2000 |