the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
BOWTIE: ship-based measurements of atmosphere and ocean within the moist tropical Atlantic
Abstract. As part of BOWTIE (German: Beobachtung von Ozean und Wolken - Das Trans ITCZ Experiment), the German research vessel FS Meteor navigated the moist tropics of the Atlantic Ocean for 40 days in summer 2024, with an east-west trajectory. The journey started in the port of Mindelo, Cape Verde, on August 16, and finished in the port of Bridgetown, Barbados, on September 24. The objective was to measure properties of the atmosphere, upper-ocean, and air-sea interface within the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), under a variety of wind, convection, and sea surface temperature regimes. Using a set of 29 instruments/platforms, BOWTIE sampled the near-surface conditions of the atmosphere and ocean with high temporal resolution. This included continuous measurements of: the 2-D wind field within the lowest 2 km of the atmosphere, near-surface ocean currents, cloud and precipitation properties. Profiles of the ocean state and atmospheric thermodynamics and kinematics were obtained both continuously and at discrete intervals. Furthermore, dedicated stations sampled biochemical properties of the upper-ocean. Complementing BOWTIE observations, FS Meteor hosted further dedicated field campaigns for 3D cloud and precipitation properties, as well as intensive measurements of the atmospheric boundary layer. This manuscript provides an overview of the extensive instrumentation and data collected during BOWTIE. In addition, it addresses two key aspects based on these observations. First, it examines the range and uncertainties of selected quantities measured by multiple instruments, including column-integrated water vapor, rain detection, surface ocean currents, and sea surface temperature. Second, it illustrates the diversity of sampled weather regimes through two representative cases: calm doldrum conditions and a gusty, precipitating convective state.
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Status: final response (author comments only)
- RC1: 'Comment on essd-2026-343', Anonymous Referee #1, 11 Aug 2026
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RC2: 'Comment on essd-2026-343', Anonymous Referee #2, 15 Aug 2026
< General comments >
This article provides basic information about observations made during the BOWTIE cruise that would act as a reference for future use. The authors also demonstrate the characteristics of ocean and atmosphere during the two cases; calm conditions and convectively active conditions as indications for future studies. The authors’ efforts producing quality-controlled data and providing those data to the broader community would be highly appreciated. However, several descriptions are unclear. In addition, while I understand this is an introduction paper of BOWTIE datasets, some “depths” are needed to ensure their data reliability. I put some questions and suggestions as specific comments below. Please revise them accordingly.
< Specific comments >
1) L. 67-69; It is helpful to know the locations of two ports, so that the readers can obtain UTC from their local times and also can find rough distance between them. (I know we can see it in Fig. 2, but it is better to describe it in the text.)
2) L. 97; It might be better to add “aerial” before “drone”, as recently uncrewed ocean surface vehicles such as saildrone and wave-glider are also referred as marine (oceanic) drones.
3) L. 111-143; It is one idea that section 2.3 can be summarized into one table, which lists the simultaneous observations among ORCESTRA’s sub-campaigns instead of the current description style. I mean, it is not necessary to divide into two sub-sections. Instead, one section with one table might be enough. Or, a paragraph that explains the following two sub-sections can be inserted at the beginning of this section.
4) L. 114; If there is no published work on STRINQS, at least, relevant paper (Stevens et al. 2026 Tellus paper) should be cited, as the authors did for PERCUSION and CELLO in the next subsection. In addition, the readers cannot imagine anything from its abbreviation alone. Please spell them out.
5) L. 131; These numbers (17 overpass and 7 additional ...) might be the ones only during the period corresponding to the BOWTIE campaign. I found the different numbers (23 flights during Aug. 11 - Sept. 28) in Table 1 of Stevens et al. (2026, Tellus). If so, it is better to describe such facts to avoid any misleading on PERCUSION and/or HALO campaign period.
6) L. 156-205; Was any calibration for each sensor performed before/after the cruise? Such calibration is useful to detect temporal drifts. If only annual maintenance by the instrument manufacturers is done, it should be noted. In any case, please provide calibration information (not calibration results).
7) L. 206-530; It is better to provide the same basic information for all instruments with notification (name, manufacturer, type, sampling intervals, etc.) first. It is hard to understand the current descriptions which is which. Or, simply refer to Tables 2 and 3, which tell above. In addition, it is possible to omit descriptions on sensor types in the text, as we can see them in the tables.
8) L. 251-270; After all, final quality-controlled datasets of W-band radar have not been produced yet. Right? If so, it should be mentioned. Also, if any definitions of QC level (or version) exist, it should be noted for future updates.
9) L. 367-370; Any special reason to set the timing of reaching top of troposphere at the nominal 00/03/../21 UTC? As the authors may know, WMO requires to launch the baloon between 45-min to 15-min prior to the nominal time as much as possible. This makes it possible to re-launch in case of failure within the same nomintal time slot. (So, I guess re-launch was not performed during the BOWTIE as the same slot.) Also, I wonder if those data were sent to global communities through the GTS or not. If yes, it should be noted.
10) L. 375-376; I wonder if any quality check on near surface data was performed or not. As long as I read Schulz et al. (2024) package, which is cited here for postprocessing, I cannot find any explicit description on that. In the past big campaigns in the tropics such as TOGA-COARE in the western Pacific and DYNAMO in the Indian Ocean, special care was taken for radiosonde near-surface data obtained onboard especially in the calm sea conditions (e.g., Wang et al., 2002; Ciesielski et al., 2014), which might affect boundary layer research. If apparent errors are not found, it is fine. If check was not done, at least, it should be noted. Please note that in old days (like TOGA-COARE era) many errors were attributed to radiosonde itself or operation. However, I mention here that even accurate data were taken, data itself around the ship might be distorted due to the ship structure. For example, I’m afraid of any influence from a funnel and deck, if a schematic in Fig. 4a demonstrates actual operation. So, quality checks are required to confirm it.
References.
Ciesielski, P. E., H. Yu, R. H. Johnson, K. Yoneyama, M. Katsumata, C. N. Long, J. Wang, S. M. Loehrer, K. Young, S. F. Williams, W. Brown, J. Braun, T. Van Hove, 2014: Quality-controlled upper-air sounding dataset for DYNAMO/CINDY/AMIE: Development and corrections. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 31, 741-764. https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-13-00165.1
Wang, J., H. L. Cole, D. J. Carlson, E. R. Miller, K. Beierle, A. Paukkunen, and T. K. Laine, 2002: Corrections of humidity measurement errors from the Vaisala RS80 Radiosonde-application to TOGA COARE data. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 19, 981-1002.
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0426(2002)019%3C0981:COHMEF%3E2.0.CO;2
11) L. 391-396; Since ISAR cannot be operated under rain, this fact should be noted.
12) L. 399-402; I cannot understand this description, because usually a sea snake is deployed near the bow or far aside avoiding the ship’s wake. Fairall et al. (1997), which is cited here, also mentioned they deployed a sea snake from an outrigged boom about 4 m from the ship’s hull. Similar discussions can be found in many papers (e.g. de Szoeke, 2021). Could you confirm this point (sea snake was deployed within the influence of wake intentionally)?
Reference.
de Szoeke, S. P., 2021: Fast floating temperature sensor measures SST, not wet-bulb temperature. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 38, 995-1000. https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-20-0193.1
13) L. 493-500; It might be better to cite Pinkel et al. (2011) paper on Wire Walker explanation.
Reference.
Pinkel, R., M. A. Goldin, J. A. Smith, O. M. Sun, A. A. Aja, M. N. Bui, and T. Hughen, 2011: The Wirewalker: A vertically profiling instrument carrier powered by ocean waves. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 28, 426–435. https://doi.org/10.1175/2010JTECHO805.1
14) L. 551-582; Integrated water vapor. It is not necessary to add any figures, but I’m wondering if the authors compared those data from diurnal cycle viewpoint. This is useful to confirm dry bias of radiosonde due to solar radiation. Besides, as asked in my previous comments on radiosonde measurement, previous studies indicated careful treatment on near-surface data was needed for ship-based data, which may cause drier/wetter in daytime/nighttime. So, I believe it is worth checking.
15) L. 607-637; In L. 271-279, the authors mentioned MRR had problems with deployment. Doesn’t it affect anything on detection technically?
16) L. 734-767; I cannot see the “philosophy” of these selections as examples. What kind of actions do the authors expect from the readers as a next step? Or, the authors simply demonstrate the usefulness of data? If the authors intend to provide the readers with guidance for future studies, it should be explicitly mentioned using these examples.
17) L. 748; “11 UTC” might be better to be expressed as local time.
< Technical corrections >
1) Fig. 2, caption; typo (pepth -> depth)
2) L. 147; STRIN”G”S --> STRIN”Q”S
3) L. 278-279 and L. 627; Which is correct, “> 3 dBz” or “greater than 3.1 dBz”?
4) L. 591; Not Section “3.1.2” but “3.2.1”?
5) L. 929; Exact citation is required. This paper is from “Reviews of Geophysics, 17, 1762-1772. https://doi.org/10.1029/RG017i007p01762”
6) L. 967; Published. https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-25-0166.1
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-343-RC2
Data sets
Ship information database (DVS DShip) of METEOR cruise M203 H. Segura https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeib5awa3le6nxi4rgepn2mwxj733aazpkmgtcpa3uc2744gxv7op44
Cloud radar and Cloudnet on RV Meteor during BOWTIE A. Foth https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeidtfyua2vmmrpnhbl6nj57x2ynowaceghdapyetc6lnrpjii2tlli
METEOR1 PARSIVEL Disdrometer QCed data D. Colón-Burgos https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeicrrokylncpyjgs52c6526otqbqxcxhmkt6mkqovya2xvt2n3yo54
METEOR2 PARSIVEL Disdrometer QCed data D. Colón-Burgos https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeiacc53awulhrttttkdwd6uktvb3bfbsyac5g4ww7rkujigkalmkfe
Merged PARSIVEL Disdrometer QCed data D. Colón-Burgos https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeihjcwsecgpmsjxoo5peqafnuqfnalu3ya3vtibwl7qkm76izsnuei
Continuous subskin sea surface temperature data along RV METEOR M203 cruise track M. Dengler https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeieoosfm33u47expejxhccectau4oxrp2jg4efzrqn743af6tzxide
IWV data from GNSS antenna on R/V METEOR P. Bosser https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeifanfvmxia7nfeuros7gl3ouv3qb5cmg4dczl6ekkjuk7gv66w424
Sunphotometer (Microtops) measurements during METEOR cruise M203 (data collection) E. Lind, P. Gupta, and D. Klocke https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeifw2qrevl4ckmncq4zqpwivorcgketyyyjap5po7xkvkykjhi5jpa
ISAR L2 SST product U. UoS https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeibei32rn7fcyrrhhx3gfsdz2yonze6rpqvvyih2avpxb74qqlqss4
Rain gauge measurements during METEOR cruise M203 M. Stelzner and D. Klocke https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeievu3hvrmcb7bh6fv4xqsx3kzsreokwknsk2mfz62xp2fspyzrrta
Shipboard ADCP current measurements (38 kHz) during RV METEOR cruise M203 D. Klocke, M. Dengler, and R. Kopte https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeieli3hwulxcvqqan2f62lfajswqzbbbhmueenjaubc6zfxukjc2ke
Shipboard ADCP current measurements (75 kHz) during RV METEOR cruise M203 D. Klocke, M. Dengler, and R. Kopte https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeia4pgtryncxt4pexfs2gyvgxn4cob43mfijkdo2alwcxgorpfn3va
Level 4 Gridded Sea-Pol Radar Data Rainrate 2D M. Bell, B. Dolan, J. DeHart, D. Colón-Burgos, V. Chandrasekar, J. George, M. Lovato, F. Junyent, A. Wing, J. Ruppert, and S. Kennison https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeigv34pwsk3t5wlmatncnavfsfie5zyd6j36eyv57qsh6f7usn5kg4
Level 4 Gridded Sea-Pol Radar Data RHI 2D M. Bell, B. Dolan, J. DeHart, D. Colón-Burgos, V. Chandrasekar, J. George, M. Lovato, F. Junyent, A. Wing, J. Ruppert, and S. Kennison https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeigbngdrbifkqry3hsqilx4rywi3pu4a6vf2fraf4bql3qyzoosh2m
Level 4 Gridded Sea-Pol Radar Data Composite 2D M. Bell, B. Dolan, J. DeHart, D. Colón-Burgos, V. Chandrasekar, J. George, M. Lovato, F. Junyent, A. Wing, J. Ruppert, and S. Kennison https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeigdehy7635uypwipv5xdnlvgnlbncvuyudajwejawn2llirbp2vyq
Level 4 Gridded Sea-Pol Radar Data QVP 1D M. Bell, B. Dolan, J. DeHart, D. Colón-Burgos, V. Chandrasekar, J. George, M. Lovato, F. Junyent, A. Wing, J. Ruppert, and S. Kennison https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeifhwxvq4kh66dry6wo4s7auvdbfhur4gtmhwonw6ru2w537j53xiy
Ceilometer (CHM15k Nimbus) measurements during METEOR cruise M203 F. Jansen https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeia74wnxe2nxwkcmespzjckqwt25tyhcknah3xqxxeeevbsdiawzom
GEOMAR PO-processed CTD data of cruise Meteor 203/1 CTD station number 1. M. Dengler https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeihoghhgi655g7arw2ubtpudbq4c4hpwjlrwghcex3snu7f36imjgq
HATPRO observation on RV Meteor during BOWTIE MWR single-pointing from RV Meteor A. Foth https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeihc63mpkfatnvl6z5hze2eijzwqr6o3ohubhi5i66dvos4qjcssvu
HATPRO observation on RV Meteor during BOWTIE MWR multiple-pointing from RV Meteor A. Foth https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeihddiylirtiv64yo74wzt7zok545yowhiiu23kjonvz2wl57eunze
Raman LiDAR LICHT fast product (2min smoothing) during METEOR cruise M203 I. Serikov https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeidhokylvrnu447th4z3npevzflfmtjsva2icf7gbyp7mmsyyeknhm
Raman LiDAR LICHT slow product (58min smoothing) during METEOR cruise M203 I. Serikov https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeie754xlrs75yw2vnqrneuh23vsalzagfputvjnbqnsi4fvyjjtfrq
X-band Radar surface derived currents M203 J. Boedewadt, R. Carrasco, and J. Horstmann https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeig3znybjnw6tzr5ek6acavwmkvd6rl7bo6mpbbfhkhweq5oexs3ja
Horizontal wind profiles from shipborne scanning wind lidar L. Nuijens https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeieggj743jwgsahtv56hb7ier245mxnxey56zl5bdr3iltzmm4ik4a
Wind LiDAR LiTra S raw data (ship motion present) I. Serikov https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeibg3e7kodnqrgjs5576soeq7gwcqjzdity56zlmz2bw27ucrip4fe
Wind LiDAR LiTra S heave-corrected, asynchronous ship motion data I. Serikov https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeiaonfwwrbianryo4nejd4fyfqjcrofo6wciz62aeuzpeplcqu6zqe
Wind LiDAR LiTra S heave-corrected, synchronous ship motion data I. Serikov https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeigh4aqyy3zmhqteq4y53zknarkmy7rwe6sctcwcskuyw4paap6kxm
surface rain flag from Micro Rain Radar A. Foth https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeie2zhy2rkepcqh6tc5lk75blv372rvpfnnrhsyl6efscdgmugld4a
Continuous thermosalinograph oceaography along RV METEOR cruise track M203 [dataset], PANGAEA M. Schlundt, D. Klocke, and M. Dengler https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.977775
FS Meteor log and coordination log between RV METEOR and other platforms during BOWTIE H. Segura and A. Wing https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeianebwhw4uzkqnaekl5kyoau7hubxaens7azrftgqtz2mccciejle
Station in BOWTIE (CTD, MSS, UAV) H. Segura https://doi.org/10.82246/bafybeiekpjsfkslf2drgqtigah7a2y33zuzv6tjlrwgsxqv6plwebbnr5m
Interactive computing environment
Scripts for Bowtie data paper H. Segura, A. A. Wing, J. H. Ruppert Jr., and R. Carrasco https://doi.org/10.17617/3.FZYXYF
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General Comments
This manuscript describes the atmospheric and oceanic measurements taken during the 40-day ship cruise of FS Meteor in the moist tropical Atlantic as part of the BOWTIE campaign in August and September 2024. After providing a brief introduction into the historic context of the measurements and their coordination within the larger-scale ORCESTRA campaign, large parts of the manuscript are dedicated to the description of the comprehensive suite of in-situ and remote-sensing instruments measuring atmospheric and oceanic variables (section 3). The authors also present instrument comparison analyses for different measured parameters (section 4) and close with two case studies of atmospheric phenomena within the main focus of the project (section 5). All observational data described in the manuscript are well documented and publicly available via a dedicated data browser for the ORCESTRA campaign using a modern IPFS infrastructure, which eases the access to and usability of the data.
Overall, the manuscript describes a unique and comprehensive data set that can be of great relevance for both the meteorology and oceanography community. Given the large number of deployed instruments and studied processes, the rather technical and lengthy description in section 3 is justified and will be referenced by future data users. My main criticism concerns the following sections 4 and 5, where the authors should better motivate the presented analyses and provide more scientific context. I acknowledge the fact that this data description paper does not aim for deep scientific analyses, however, I believe that the authors could do a better a job in characterizing the uniqueness of their data set. The instrument comparison of sampled rainfall in section 4 is certainly of help when interpreting the data, but it is unclear if these results are specific to the BOWTIE deployment and observation period/region or if the same results could have been found with existing data of these suite of instruments. Also the choice of case studies in section 5 appears arbitrary and the reader is left on their own to judge the significance of these events and what new aspects the data set could add to our current knowledge of process understanding. Nevertheless, my overall assessment of this study is positive and after addressing these general concerns as well as the specific comments listed below, I would be happy to recommend the manuscript for publication in ESSD.
Specific Comments
Technical Corrections