Page 22. MAINE COASTAL NEWS October 2017 U. S. N N


an Air Force C-130 “Hurricane Hunter” aircraft into Caribbean waters, ahead of the storm. The sensors are continuing to make observations and will also be used to track ocean dynamics in the approaching Hurri- cane Jose. Short, metal tubes crammed with


sensors and scientifi c instruments, each ALAMO sensor sank nearly 1,000 feet underwater and then rose again. They’ve been tracking ocean temperature, salinity and pressure, and transmitting this data via satellite, for use by the Naval Research Laboratory to update the Navy’s coupled ocean-atmosphere forecasting models. “The ALAMO sensors will enable us


ATLANTIC OCEAN (Sept. 7, 2017) Sailors prepare an F-35C Lightning II assigned to the “Grim Reapers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA 101) to launch on the fl ight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Abraham Lincoln is underway conducting training after its successful completion of carrier incremental availability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Josue Escobosa/Released)


(Air-Launched Autonomous Micro Observ- er) sensors-is being used in hurricane-pre- diction research. While standard computer- ized prediction models rely on atmospheric data like air temperature, humidity, altitude, and wind speed and direction, the ALAMO sensors use sophisticated instruments to gauge water temperature, salinity and pres- sure beneath the sea surface. “Hurricanes like this have a devastating


impact on coastal regions, and our thoughts and prayers are with the aff ected commu- nities,” said Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. David J. Hahn. “Often, there is an intersection of military and civilian needs. If we can improve the lead time and accuracy of storm forecasts, it would give national and local leadership more time and detailed information for preparations, evacuation or shelter-in-place decisions.” Fully developed tropical cy-


clones-called hurricanes or typhoons, de- pending on their region-can grow as wide as several hundred miles and sustain winds


greater than 150 miles per hour. With his- torically high winds, Hurricane Irma is one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. Such storms are notoriously diffi cult to


predict, presenting a volatile meteorological cocktail that can change direction, speed and strength-quickly and unexpectedly. One rea- son is that current forecasting models focus on the atmosphere, instead of underwater properties that contribute to the creation of hurricanes, but are diffi cult to observe. In addition to the potential catastrophic


damage to coastal communities, hurricanes also pose a severe threat to U.S. Navy fl eet operations. Accurate forecasting is critical for protecting ships at sea, evacuating vul- nerable bases, and performing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Earlier this week, the ONR-spon-


sored research team-composed of U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen and scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institu- tion-dropped ten ALAMO sensors from


to get an accurate picture of conditions in the water column-before, during and after a hurricane,” said Capt. Elizabeth Sanabia, an oceanography professor at the Naval Academy, who is overseeing the research. “For the Navy, this improved forecasting will increase operational readiness and mitigate risk. For the nation, it will result in better response planning and potentially save lives.” The participating Naval Academy mid-


shipmen were Casey Densmore, Kelli Wise and Rachel Boushon. Once the immediate danger of Hur-


ricane Irma has passed, the information accumulated by Sanabia’s team will be used to improve the Navy’s Coupled Ocean/ Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction Sys- tem-Tropical Cyclone-COAMPS-TC, for short. COAMPS-TC, developed with ONR support, uses complex algorithms to predict hurricane intensity-by processing real-time and historical meteorological data, fed by information from satellites. “Our goal is to improve ocean and at- mosphere modeling and prediction for fl eet operations,” said Dr. Ronald Ferek, a pro- gram manager in ONR’s Ocean Battlespace Sensing Department. “The real-time CO- AMPS-TC forecasts for Hurricane Irma help the Navy issue operational guidance for fl eet safety, and improve understanding of the complex air-sea interaction processes that drive the intensity of tropical hurri- canes.”


ONR’s sponsored hurricane research


is part of the Task Force Ocean initiative, which seeks to strengthen the Navy’s ocean- ographic capabilities in ocean sensing and modeling technology. Warren Duffi e Jr. is a contractor for ONR Corporate Strategic Communications


DISCOUNT POWER TOOLS CORDED POWER TOOLS CORDLESS POWER TOOLS FUELED POWER TOOLS PNEUMATIC POWER TOOLS FASTENERS HAND TOOLS


MATERIAL HANDLING


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Lincoln Tests F-35C Lightning II at Sea By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Matt Herbst


ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The Nim-


itz-Class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) became one of the few ships in the fl eet to trap and launch the F-35C Lightning II, Sept. 3. The “Grim Reapers” of Strike Fighter


Squadron 101 (VFA 101), from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, are the training squad- ron for the F-35C. “The F-35C is still in a testing phase,


so it is not fully operational yet,” said Lt. Cmdr. Chris Karapostoles, a pilot assigned to VFA 101. “We are the training squadron for the F-35C, so we are onboard this ship conducting our carrier qualifi cation training, qualifying pilots, landing signal offi cers and maintenance crews.” The launching and recovering of the


F-35Cs presented an opportunity for the crew of Abraham Lincoln to work with a new aircraft and play a role in the develop- ment of this new fi ghter jet. “Being part of the primary fl ight con-


trol team for the landing and launching of the F-35Cs was such a unique experience,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Mariana Monima. “The F-35Cs are so amazing and powerful. I feel privileged to have been a part of this historic event.” According to the F-35 Lightning II


Pax River Integrated Test Force, the F-35C should reach its initial operational capacity in 2018. “I love the F-35C,” said Karapostoles.


“Compared to other jets it’s more powerful and really just a beast. Some of the controls are diff erent, which can take a little bit of getting used to, but that’s what we have training like this for.” According to the Joint Strike Fighter


Fleet Integration Offi ce, the F-35C will introduce next generation strike-fighter aircraft capabilities to the Navy Carrier Air Wings, enabling the Carrier Strike Groups and numbered fl eets to eff ectively engage and survive a wide range of rapidly evolving threats.


Abraham Lincoln is underway conduct-


ing training after successful completion of carrier incremental availability.


CNO Presents Awards to Naval History Essay Contest Winners


ANNAPOLIS, Md. (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson presented awards to the winners of the CNO 2017 Naval History Essay Contest during the McMullen Naval History Symposium at the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Sept. 14. The six awardees were chosen among a group of 292 total submissions. “This year’s essay contest is just one


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