TLDR: strongest support is that 2001 Hurricane Erin was exceptionally well-observed during NASA CAMEX-4, with NOAA + NASA aircraft, dropsondes, RADAR, satellite instruments, and related research; the U.S. Navy / ONR connection is through CBLAST / air-sea-transfer hurricane research.
Core sources / links
- NHC official Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Erin 2001
- Track, intensity, meteorology, chronology.
- https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL062001_Erin.pdf
- NASA NTRS: “A Numerical Study of Hurricane Erin (2001): Model Verification and Storm Evolution – Part 1”
- Notes Erin occurred during NASA CAMEX-4 field phase; uses observations/model verification.
- https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20040034264
- PDF: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20040034264/downloads/20040034264.pdf
- Journal paper: “Warm Core Structure of Hurricane Erin Diagnosed from High Altitude Dropsondes during CAMEX-4”
- Very strong evidence Erin was carefully observed.
- Abstract says three instrumented aircraft flew coordinated passes: NOAA P-3 radar, NASA ER-2 with GPS dropwindsondes, NASA DC-8 with
dropwindsondes. - DOI: https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS3596.1
- Journal paper: “Kelvin–Helmholtz Billows in the Eyewall of Hurricane Erin”
- Uses high-altitude dropwindsonde observation in Erin’s eyewall.
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR3094.1
- Journal paper: “Impact of CAMEX-4 Datasets for Hurricane Forecasts Using a Global Model”
- Shows CAMEX-4 datasets/dropsondes/LASE had forecast-assimilation value.
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS3588.1
Data archives
- NASA Earthdata / GHRC CAMEX-4 campaign collections
- Search result shows ~44 CAMEX-4 datasets.
- https://search.earthdata.nasa.gov/search?ff=CAMEX-4
- CAMEX-4 DC-8 Dropsonde System dataset
- CAMEX-4 ER-2 High Altitude Dropsonde dataset
- CAMEX-4 ER-2 Doppler Radar dataset
Navy / ONR / CBLAST connection
- “The CBLAST-Hurricane Program and the Next-Generation Fully Coupled Atmosphere–Wave–Ocean Models for Hurricane Research and Prediction”
- CBLAST-Hurricane is the relevant air-sea boundary-layer hurricane research program; associated with ONR/Navy research ecosystem.
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-88-3-311
- DTIC / ONR-linked report: “The Coupled Boundary Layers and Air-Sea Transfer (CBLAST) DRI Program Office”
- DTIC record, directly useful for Navy/ONR program backing.
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.21236/ADA627369
- DTIC report: “A Strong Wind Experiment in Support of the CBLAST Hurricane Study”
- CBLAST hurricane-supporting experiment, Navy/DTIC source.
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.21236/ADA626328
Bottom line
Hurricane Erin 2001 was among the best-observed storms of its era because it was intercepted during CAMEX-4 by coordinated NASA/NOAA aircraft, dropsondes, radar, and satellite instruments; Navy/ONR relevance comes through CBLAST hurricane air-sea research and DTIC/ONR-linked reports.