Grapevine

VXS-1 Squadron continues the mission, tracking potential tropical cyclone

U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS) 1 takes to the skies to deploy observational buoys in front of Hurricane Helene's projected path on Tuesday, Sept. 24 providing real-time forecasts to the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) Hurricane Coastal Impacts (NHCI) team for timely prediction and operational readiness.

"This is the second gulf hurricane the Warlocks have flown on in two weeks and the most buoys we have ever dropped on a NHCI mission," said Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS) 1 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Aaron Roberts.

"We just finished showcasing the mission at the Oceana Airshow before flying on Helene. I am impressed by my team's ability to adapt to the unpredictable and rapidly developing hurricanes this year."

During the 7.8 hour flight, the team dropped 29 buoys in the Gulf of Mexico along the Florida and Alabama coastline. Four different variations of buoys were used for data collection, including four submersibles, six spotters, three Directional Wave Spectra Drifters, and three Surface Wave Instrument Floats with Tracking.

"The array of air-deployed drifting buoys and submersible instruments was designed by the NHCI team, including scientists from the Marine Meteorology Division who provided real-time forecasts from NRL's Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System for Tropical Cyclones, or COAMPS-TC, and insight into the observing strategy for Hurricane Helene," said James Doyle, Ph.D., Senior Scientist for Mesoscale Meteorology from the Marine Meteorology Division.