010918 Radar and Sounding Operation Status

The radar operated continuously without problems.  In contrast to the 
last several days, convective activity was largely suppressed 
overnight and through the morning hours (i.e., up through 15 Z). 
Convection, where it occurred, usually contained echo tops less than 
10-11 km.  During the afternoon, activity increased with a large 
precipitation region passing over the ship between 19-22 Z.  This 
feature was marked by large areas of decaying convection and 
stratiform precipitation punctuated by clusters of convective cells 
with little in the way of coherent organization.

All 6 sounding launches returned wind and thermodynamic data through 
the troposphere.  One obvious trend in the wind data was the 
reduction in the low level westerly flow during the course of the 
day.  This trend seems consistent with GOES IR data showing the Ron 
Brown to be positioned on the back side (east) of an easterly wave.