GRIP

The Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) experiment was a NASA Earth science field experiment conducted August 5 to September 30, 2010. The major goal was to better understand how tropical storms form and develop into major hurricanes. NASA used the DC-8 aircraft, the WB-57 aircraft and the Global Hawk Unmanned Airborne System (UAS), configured with a suite of in situ and remote sensing instruments that were used to observe and characterize the lifecycle of hurricanes. This campaign also capitalized on a number of ground networks and space-based assets, in addition to the instruments deployed on aircraft from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida ( DC-8), Houston, Texas (WB-57), and NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, California (Global Hawk). Data from the GRIP field experiment is now available at the GHRC. More information on the GRIP field experiment can be found at https://ghrc.nsstc.nasa.gov/home/field-campaigns/grip.

GHRC DAAC Manager Michael Goodman attended the 67th IHC/Tropical Cyclone Research Forum at the NOAA Center for Climate and Weather Prediction on March 5, 2013, and virtually on March 6. GHRC data holdings include satellite, airborne and in situ data from many NASA hurricane science field campaigns including GRIP (Aug/Sept 2010), NAMMA (Aug/Sept 2006), TCSP (Summer 2005), ACES (Aug/Sept 2002), CAMEX 3 and 4 (Fall 1998, Fall 2001).

GHRC has updated the GRIP Hurricane Imaging Radiometer (HIRAD) dataset with new files containing rain rates and wind speed from Hurricane Earl (September 1-2, 2010) as an addition to the original brightness temperature files.  The HIRAD flew aboard the WB-57 aircraft from Houston, Texas during the Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) experiment.

GHRC updated the  documentation for the GRIP Hurricane Imaging Radiometer (HIRAD) dataset with information about the new files containing rain rates and wind speed from Hurricane Earl (September 1-2, 2010). Data with these geophysical parameters are now distributed along with the original brightness temperature files.  The HIRAD flew aboard the WB-57 aircraft from Houston, Texas during the Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) experiment.

GHRC Operations Manager Helen Conover, Data Management Group lead Marilyn Drewry, User Services lead Sherry Harrison, and student assistant Kaylin Bugbee (all University of Alabama in Huntsville) attended the HIRAD instrument team meeting in Huntsville, AL, to discuss data, metadata and documentation requirements for submitting data to the DAAC. HIRAD is one of the instruments in the Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel, a Venture mission, to be archived at GHRC. HIRAD data from the 2010 Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) field campaign is already at the DAAC.

GRIP View from the DC-8

GRIP DC-8