Sea Breeze The Invisible Tsunami For the area

Sea Breeze The Invisible Tsunami For the area of NJ & Southeastern PA By Todd Nixon

The Objective To provide you an understanding of how NJ sea breezes pose a significant hazard to hot air balloon ride operations in NJ and southeastern PA.

Typical Sunset Balloon Flight Path - May 31, 2006 - Pilot: Todd Nixon

The Problem Sea breezes are a significant weather event to balloonists because: 1. The landing speeds are increased. 2. The landing approaches may be in turbulence. 3. Our options to reduce hazardous landings are very limited.

The Solution Balloon pilots need to: 1. Understand the sea breeze process and its many variations. 2. Learn to forecast & track sea breezes for ourselves. 3. Learn to estimate sea breeze strengths and penetration distances. 4. Know when to cancel the flight.

My Sea Breeze Experiences In Ballooning: 1. As chase crew: – Pre-launch near miss – Run, trip & drag 2. As a pilot: – May 25 & August 17, 2004 – May 28, 2006

A Balloon Flight Affected By A Sea Breeze Flight Path - June 8, 2002 - Pilot: W. Barry Nixon

A Balloon Flight Affected By A Sea Breeze Flight Path – August 17, 2004 - Pilot: Todd Nixon

Flying In A Sea Breeze Altitude 8/17/2004 18: 59: 23 8/17/2004 19: 05: 09 8/17/2004 19: 15: 22 8/17/2004 19: 26: 09 8/17/2004 19: 31: 28 8/17/2004 19: 35: 10 8/17/2004 19: 43: 53 8/17/2004 19: 56: 28 8/17/2004 19: 59: 44 8/17/2004 20: 00: 19 8/17/2004 20: 00: 56 8/17/2004 20: 02: 24 8/17/2004 20: 03: 31 8/17/2004 20: 04: 36 8/17/2004 20: 05: 30 8/17/2004 20: 10: 07 565 ft 1253 ft 485 ft 846 ft 843 ft 833 ft 552 ft 656 ft 600 ft 538 ft 508 ft 494 ft 474 ft 450 ft 436 ft 422 ft 241 ft 266 ft 262 ft 278 ft 285 ft 263 ft 280 ft 266 ft 265 ft 247 ft 257 ft 145 ft 263 ft 260 ft 266 ft 271 ft 153 ft 00: 01: 05 00: 25 00: 40 00: 24 00: 22 00: 20 00: 21 00: 31 00: 14 00: 16 00: 19 00: 37 00: 01: 28 00: 01: 07 00: 01: 05 00: 54 00: 04: 37 Speed Bearing 2. 5 mph 7. 2 mph 4. 5 mph 7. 9 mph 8. 8 mph 9. 0 mph 9. 1 mph 5. 9 mph 12. 9 mph 10. 5 mph 9. 2 mph 2. 7 mph 2. 0 mph 2. 6 mph 2. 8 mph 3. 4 mph 0. 4 mph 277° true 318° true 291° true 315° true 305° true 313° true 310° true 304° true 326° true 305° true 296° true 295° true 293° true 310° true 312° true 14° true

A Balloon Flight Affected By A Sea Breeze Flight Path - May 28, 2006 - Pilot: Todd Nixon

Flying In A Sea Breeze 5/28/2006 18: 45: 46 5/28/2006 18: 49: 40 5/28/2006 18: 56: 25 5/28/2006 19: 12: 50 5/28/2006 19: 20: 17 5/28/2006 19: 27: 14 5/28/2006 19: 32: 44 5/28/2006 19: 37: 44 5/28/2006 19: 39: 46 5/28/2006 19: 41: 17 5/28/2006 19: 49: 28 5/28/2006 19: 52: 48 5/28/2006 19: 53: 00 5/28/2006 19: 53: 11 5/28/2006 19: 53: 22 5/28/2006 19: 53: 33 5/28/2006 19: 53: 45 5/28/2006 19: 53: 58 5/28/2006 19: 54: 11 5/28/2006 19: 54: 25 5/28/2006 19: 54: 40 5/28/2006 19: 54: 58 5/28/2006 19: 55: 20 5/28/2006 19: 56: 37 Altitude 764 ft 511 ft 702 ft 511 ft 410 ft 562 ft 806 ft 582 ft 731 ft 581 ft 611 ft 768 ft 767 ft 748 ft 726 ft 694 ft 679 ft 661 ft 631 ft 598 ft 584 ft 543 ft 510 ft 497 ft 153 ft 152 ft 144 ft 158 ft 167 ft 154 ft 167 ft 163 ft 168 ft 163 ft 164 ft 163 ft 168 ft 158 ft 165 ft 161 ft 160 ft 167 ft 160 ft 164 ft 158 ft 124 ft 00: 30 00: 27 00: 22 00: 24 00: 26 00: 19 00: 14 00: 27 00: 14 00: 15 00: 16 00: 00: 12 00: 00: 11 00: 12 00: 00: 13 00: 14 00: 15 00: 18 00: 22 00: 01: 17 Speed 3. 5 mph 3. 8 mph 4. 5 mph 4. 4 mph 5. 5 mph 8. 1 mph 4. 1 mph 8. 2 mph 7. 4 mph 7. 0 mph 9. 2 mph 9. 5 mph 9. 8 mph 10. 2 mph 10. 0 mph 9. 1 mph 8. 8 mph 7. 5 mph 5. 8 mph 4. 9 mph 1. 1 mph Bearing 337° true 308° true 315° true 340° true 323° true 324° true 328° true 336° true 343° true 336° true 332° true 333° true 334° true 331° true 326° true 328° true 326° true 329° true 316° true 323° true 300° true

Flying In A Sea Breeze Your two choices if caught up in a sea breeze: 1. Ride out the sea breeze front: • Could be a long distance flight. • Crew help doubtful. 2. Fly above the sea breeze current: • The current may slow towards sunset. • Target a preferred landing site. • Coordinate a landing approach with your crew.

Flying In A Sea Breeze Flight Path - May 25, 2004 - Pilot: Todd Nixon

Flying In A Sea Breeze 3 D Flight Path - May 25, 2004 - Pilot: Todd Nixon - Image created by Keith Sproul

Flying In A Sea Breeze Synoptic flow above sea breeze Top of sea breeze Main feed currents Calm air Land surface Rotor Sea breeze front Surface obstructions create resistance

Flying In A Sea Breeze

Flying In A Sea Breeze Flight characteristics vary with each sea breeze: • The strongest current in a sea breeze is typically between 500 to 1200 feet AGL • Strong sea breezes will have significant turbulence at the surface and usually advance quickly • Even slow moving sea breeze fronts can still have significant turbulence • Weak or dissipating sea breezes can become a gentle wind shift or even decouple from the surface and go unnoticed

Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking Methods • NEXRAD - Doppler radar • Visual satellite images • Surface weather observations

Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking Image loop from Intellicast. com

Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking

Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking Image source: Weather. Bug

A Typical Balloon Flight With An Afternoon River Breeze Flight Path - June 23, 2002 - Pilot: Todd Nixon

Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking Image from Unisys Corp.

Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking Image from NWS

Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking Image from Unisys Corp.

Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking Image from Weather Underground

Sea Breeze Identification & Tracking Image loop from Intellicast. com

Closing Remarks • • Sea breezes and other onshore breezes are a dynamic weather event. Onshore breeze analysis is time consuming. Predicting sea breeze penetration distances is challenging. Internet access is vital to the success of my detection and tracking methods.

Closing Remarks • Wireless Internet access is a great asset on the launch site with an approaching sea breeze. • Sea breeze spotters are second best to wireless Internet and a great asset while piloting a balloon. • It would be very helpful if more information about onshore breezes could be included in the afternoon forecast discussions from local NWS offices.

Acknowledgements Sea breeze information provided by James Eberwine National Weather Service – Mt. Holly Sea breeze research data provided by Louis Bowers of