The East Pacific Investigation of Climate Processes in the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere System (EPIC)

Overview of the Experiment

EPIC-2001 was a combined oceanic-atmospheric field program aimed at improving our understanding of air-sea coupling processes in the east Pacific ITCZ and cold tongue regions (see scientific overview document). The intensive observation period (IOP) of the experiment was carried out from September to October 2001in the vicinity of 0-10°N, 95°W (see map). The ultimate objective of the EPIC dataset is to improve air-sea interaction and boundary-layer parameterizations in models of the ocean and the atmosphere, and to validate coupled models.

The focus of the CSU Radar Meteorology group activities in EPIC was to study convective processes in the warm pool region using the C-band radar and launching upper air soundings on-board the NOAA R/V Ronald H. Brown. EPIC participants from the CSU Radar Meteorology Group on-board the Brown included: Robert Cifelli, Walt Petersen, and Bob Bowie. Dennis Boccippio of the Global Hydrology and Climate Center at NASA MSFC also participated in the CSU group activities (click here for a group photo courtesy of J. Richards). Participation and research analyses for EPIC was supported by the National Science Foundation.

Documentation

• Radar-Sounding Science Log (html)
• Radar-Sounding Science Log (pdf)
• Radar-Sounding Sampling Strategy (html)
• R.V. Brown Cruise Instructions (pdf)
• EPIC Overview Document (html)
• Radar Meteorology Group Proposal for Radar and Sounding Studies (pdf)
• R.V. Brown Radar Calibration (html)

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EPIC-ITCZ Image Browse Products

• Radar and Sounding Products
• Rainmaps

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Research Examples From EPIC

• Radar Analyses
• Upper Air Sounding Analysis
• Hurricane Ivo

Photo Gallery

• Jennifer Richards photos aboard the R.V. Brown
• More photos from the Brown
• Scenery in the Galapagos Islands

EPIC Web Sites of Interest

• EPIC-2001 at UCAR JOSS
• EPIC-2001 Home Page at New Mexico Tech
• EPIC Satellite Products from NOAA ETL
• EPIC TAO Mooring Data from NOAA PMEL
• EPIC Teacher at Sea

Radar Meteorology Group EPIC Publications

• Cifelli, R., S.W. Nesbitt, S.A. Rutledge, W.A. Petersen, and S. Yuter, 2008: Diurnal characteristics of precipitation features over the tropical east Pacific: A comparison of the EPIC and TEPPS regions. J. Climate, 21, 4068-4086.(click here for a PDF version of the paper).

• Cifelli, R., S.W. Nesbitt, S.A. Rutledge, W.A. Petersen, and S. Yuter, 2007: Radar characteristics of precipitation features in the EPIC and TEPPS regions of the east Pacific. Mon. Wea. Rev., 135, 1576-1595.(click here for a PDF version of the paper).

• Pereira, L.G., and S.A. Rutledge, 2006: Diurnal cycle of shallow and deep convection for a tropical land and an ocean environment and its relationship to synoptic wind regimes. Mon. Wea. Rev., 134, 2688-2701. (click here for a PDF version of the paper).

• Raymond, D.J., Esbensen, S.K., Paulson, C., Gregg, M., Bretherton, C.S., Petersen, W. A., Cifelli, R., Shay, L.K., Ohlmann, C., Zuidema, P., 2004: EPIC2001 and the Coupled Ocean Atmosphere System of the Tropical East Pacific. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 85, 1341-1354.(click here for a PDF version of the paper).

• Petersen, W.A., R. Cifelli, D.J. Boccippio, S.A. Rutledge, and C. Fairall,2003: Convection and easterly wave structure in the eastern Pacific warm pool during EPIC-2001. J. Atmos. Sci., 60, 1754-1773 (click here for a PDF version of the paper).

• Boccippio, D.J., W.A. Petersen, R. Cifelli, and S.A. Rutledge, 2002: Diurnal cycle of convection in the east Pacific ITCZ during EPIC-2001. Preprint Volume, 25th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, American Meteorological Society, 29 April - 3 May, 2002, San Diego, CA (click here for a PDF version of the paper).

• Cifelli, R., W.A. Petersen, D.J. Boccippio, C.W. Fairall, and S.A. Rutledge, 2002: Ship radar observations of a developing tropical storm in the east Pacific. Preprint Volume, 25th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, American Meteorological Society, 29 April - 3 May, 2002, San Diego, CA (click here for a PDF version of the paper).

• Petersen, W.A., R. Cifelli, D.J. Boccippio, and S.A. Rutledge, 2002: Convection and easterly waves observed in the eastern Pacific ITCZ during EPIC 2001. Preprint Volume, 25th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, American Meteorological Society, 29 April - 3 May, 2002, San Diego, CA (click here for a PDF version of the paper).

• Nesbitt, S.W., R. Cifelli, S.A. Rutledge, and E.J. Zipser,2003: Field-campaign radar data collected in the context of the TRMM climatology: Comparisons of observed storm morphology and validation opportunities. Preprint Volume, 31st Conference on Radar Meteorology, American Meteorological Society, 6-12 August, 2003, Seattle, WA (click here for a PDF version of the paper).

• Cifelli, R., S.W. Nesbitt, S.A. Rutledge, W.A. Petersen, and S. Yuter, 2004: Convective Variability Across The East Pacific. Preprint Volume, 2004 International TRMM Conference ( click here for a PDF version of the paper).