010602 -- Case Summary
Flight Times: 1839 - 2258

ANVIL CASE DAY

Attenuation Times for 010602:     1941 to 2036

Example of intervening precipitation attenuation.
In the 74C CAPPIs linked below for 7 and 10 km altitude note the
distinct V notch of reduced reflectivity behind the strong convective
core just to the NNW of the notch. Comparison with the NEXRAD CAPPIs
does not show this notch. This is a classic example of the effects of
attenuation caused by intervening precipitation. A comparison between
the 74C and NEXRAD MER plots shows the reduced reflectivity between
~1942 and 1946.

Type:   attached anvil then stratiform		

The system of convective cells was between Vero Beach and Melbourne
moving to the East out over the ocean. The Citation was flying
through convective debris or outflow from cell to the north, but new
cells were also developing at lower altitudes.

We were able to make several passes through the
anvil(s) and followed them out over the ocean. We were also allowed to
spiral down AND back up in the anvil. 

Convective system with dominant cell on northern end feeding
into large stratiform area south of the core. But in the N-S direction
probably also weak convection along the axis of this large area. 

Complex but good case with many transitions from weak to stronger E
field and reflectivity.

In summary, the importance of attenuation of the radar signal is clear
here, if the radar is to be used as the primary decision-making
tool. 

	This is a rather large system. It might be more than one cell, but
shortly after the aircraft arrived the was one dominant cell that as a
large 45 dBZ region at 10 km.

This mission was characterized by high electric fields and lightning
often near the aircraft. The flight track shows that the bulk of the
measurements were taken to the SSW of Patrick, Just off the coast. The
lightning began shortly after 1600 and the activity continued to
increase until after the Citation took off at 1846.
 
The motion of the cells was roughly eastward throughout the mission. The
electric field was highly variable from place to place in the cloud and
we were not flying the same track consistently.