Saturday, Nov. 4, 2006

R/V MIRAI

"Saturday"

Fine
South-easterly of 4 m/sec prevailed and wave height was 1.5 m.

Observations:

All measurement systems were continuously operated.
Snow white sonde was released at 1100 am.
There were no significant precipitation echos within 300 km range from the MIRAI. This is related to the fact that stable layer known as the trade inversion has developed as well as the 0 degC stable layer. This results in the decrease of precipitable water vapor to the lower 40's mm. On the other hand, the stregth of the diurnal cycle of SST was slightly smaller than that of yesterday. We are now looking at the timing when this suppressed period terminates.

Remarks:

On every Saturday, routine inspection for ship's instruments such as emergency bell were carried out. In addition, we also check the sensors that are attached to the boom at the bow (photo-1). Namely, they are "sea-snake" SST sensor (photo-2), 1-m depth SST sensor, and air sampling tube for CO2 measurement (photo-3). At the lab, Ph.D. student who is in charge of 1-m depth SST sensor download the data from the instrument (photo-4). During we worked for the boom sensors, one guy went up the top deck to check the condition of the flux measurement system (photo-5).
Today, we also had a seminar by a Ph.D. student (photo-6). He talked on "Observation of the water vapor in the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) by using Snow White sonde". We were all surprised to see his presentation, because he made a short movie in introducing his past half month using many pictures and music !