Introduction

In March of 1993 a proposal was drafted which set the framework for a project. This proposal suggested borrowing one of NOAA's law enforcement vessels (cigarette type speed boats) to provide marine training for NWS personnel while also interrogating offshore weather features observed with the WSR-88D. In November 1993 the project was approved and funded by the NWS Southern Region Headquarters and the NWS Office of Meteorology (OM). This project would incorporate the use of existing resources to enhance data over the offshore area of radar coverage for a brief period, thus allowing for surface truth measurements while providing offshore marine experience in a "small craft" to NWS employees.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The goal of the project was to find out as much as possible about the WSR-88D, especially in the area relating to its usefulness as a marine forecasting tool. This was to be done while providing marine familiarization to forecasters. Within these broad objectives several specific items were identified as possible areas of interest:

• Familiarize meteorologists with the coastal and intracoastal forecast and warning areas of responsibility from a "small craft" perspective.
  
• Collect meteorological observations in and around marine weather features to investigate:
  -Life cycle of offshore convective cells
  -Convective outflow boundaries
  -Cloud streets and shear lines
  -Convection in areas with strong sea surface temperature (SST) gradients
  -Life-cycle of waterspouts
   -Oceanographic features including rip currents, sea surface discontinuities (shear lines, current eddies), and the Gulf Stream.

• Evaluate the utility and accuracy of products produced by the WSR-88D by comparison with other observations, especially:
  -Rainfall rate
  -Offshore and intracoastal surface wind speed and direction
  -Convection and non-convective boundary identification

• Provide video and photographic documentation of the intracoastal waterway and Atlantic seaboard near Melbourne
  
• Collect video and photographic documentation of Ponce de Leon, Cape Canaveral, Sebastian, Fort Pierce, St. Lucie, and Jupiter Inlets
  
• Develop marine training video for forecasters and mariners
  
• Evaluate the reception range of NOAA Weather Radio and survey the utility of NWR to the local marine community
  

This project was named SWIFT BOAT (Subtropical Weather Investigation and Forecaster Training using Boat Observations and Atmospheric sampling to marine Truth the WSR-88D). Like other weather field research projects, great detail in planning was needed to prepare the equipment and personnel for their task of interrogating weather features of opportunity. There were added difficulties over operating on land, namely the offshore environment would be very demanding on equipment, personnel, and was unforgiving. There were also benefits over operating on land. Having a fast vessel would allow for the interrogation of weather features from various positions not being limited to roadways or hindered by geographical obstruction. The planning document defined an operational area which extended from the coast to approximately 50 miles from shore between the area from Cape Canaveral to Sebastian Inlet, Florida. A five nautical mile grid was developed and affixed to the operational chart of the area on the boat and a corresponding WSR-88D background map developed to simplify coordination between the radar operator and the boat and prevent errors in offshore navigation and communication.

 The SWIFT BOAT project was divided into two periods of field operations: winter and summer. This was done to sample weather features associated with two distinctly different weather regimes over Florida. Within the plan a detailed organizational and operational structure was established to facilitate complete collection of data in and around offshore features viewed with the WSR- 88D, while maintaining a high level of safety. Tasks were divided between a field and office team each day while the specific duties associated with overall project accomplishment were overseen by individual NWSO staff members. Field operations were carried out using existing staff members without incurring additional expenses. The vessel was loaned to the project from the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (AOC). The only expenses incurred were fuel, communications, maintenance, and other miscellaneous operational expenditures.

EQUIPMENT

The Project Manager (PM) developed an operational plan that identified a vessel and the equipment needed to complete such a project. A vessel was then borrowed from the NOAA AOC. This boat was a fast cigarette type boat confiscated by the government and refurbished and used to enforce federal fisheries regulations. The vessel was outfitted with meteorological instruments, a GPS navigation system, onboard marine radar, cellular telephone, VHF radio, an optical rain gauge, and computer. The SWIFT BOAT project would not have been possible without the cooperations of NOAA's Aircraft Operations Center and the foresight of the National Weather Service (NWS) Southern Region Headquarters (SRH) who provided the initial funding for the project, with additional funding provided by the NWS Office of Meteorology and instrument funding and supplies from NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM).

During the winter portion of the project (January 7 - March 2, 1994) the research teams interrogated marine features during 23 daily missions, making up 110 vessel operating hours. During the summer portion of the project (August 8 - September 22, 1994) 12 missions and 50 hours of operation were accomplished.

The SWIFT BOAT Storybook

Selected Mission Case Studies

Complete SWIFT BOAT Gallery