Mesoscale forecasting during a field program: Meteorological support of the Labrador Sea Deep Convection Experiment

This report discusses the design and implementation of a specialized foreca sting system that was set up to support the observational component of the Labrador Sea Deep Convection Experiment. This ongoing experiment is a multi disciplinary program of observations, theory, and modeling aimed at improvi ng our knowledge of the deep convection process in the ocean, and the air-s ea interaction that forces it. The observational part of the program was ce ntered around a cruise of the R/V Knorr during winter 1997, as well as seve ral complementary meteorological research flights. To aid the planning of s hip and aircraft operations a specially tailored mesoscale model was run ov er the Labrador Sea, with the model output postprocessed and transferred to a remote field base. The benefits of using a warm-start analysis cycle in the model are discussed. The utility of the forecasting system is illustrat ed through a description of the flight planning process for several cases. The forecasts proved to be invaluable both in ship operations and in puttin g the aircraft in the right place at the night time. In writing this narrat ive the authors hope to encourage the use of similar forecasting systems in the support of future field programs, something that is becoming increasin gly possible with the rise in real-time numerical weather prediction.