WATOX meteorological overview for January 1986 WP‐3D aircraft intensive

During the January 1986 Western Atlantic Ocean Experiment (WATOX), two research aircraft (the WP-3D and King Air) flew a series of flights off the east coast of North America, with the purpose of determining chemical and air fluxes off North America. An overview of the meteorological conditions during the WP-3D flights is presented. Surface and 850-mbar synoptic charts, isobaric air parcel back trajectories, and vertical cross sections of potential temperature and water vapor mixing ratio are also presented. The surface synoptic conditions were typically characterized by low pressure near Newfoundland and high pressure over the southeastern United States, causing generally northwesterly winds north of about 38°N latitude and more variable winds farther south. In general, the flights were characterized by a well-defined marine boundary layer capped by a layer of stratus clouds. Wind climatologies suggest that the meteorology during the four flights was typical of much of January and possibly much of the winter.