2007-06-24 (Flight #1928) |
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Aircraft Flight SummaryDate: 2007-06-24 |
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Flight Mission Details
Overview:
This was the 10th flight out of Ponca City. Preflight goals focused on measuring BRDF over the Southern Great Plain Central Facility (36.60°N, 97.48°W) -- CF under clear sky.
Excellent weather for BRDF measurements over the SGP Central Facility (CF)— the best ever since CLASIC campaign started two weeks ago. BRDF measurements were taken at several levels (600' agl, 2000' agl, 6000' agl, and 12000'). There were totally no clouds over the site during the entire period we were making the measurements, and the only cloud we saw were to the southern side, faraway from the site, ~30 deg from horizon. This will be very interesting data to study BRDF at different scales (hence, albedo) at the CF (with almost no cloud contamination). The contrast with June 23 measurements (below and above scattered Cu) should be interesting.
J-31 Crew - David Thrasher (Pilot 1) & Scott Kaiser (Pilot 2).
Cabin Crew - Charles Gatebe (Flight scientist; GEST/GSFC), Robert Billings (UC Santa Cruz/NASA Ames), and Debbie Ronfeld (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory).
Flight Path, Timing, and Measurements
Time (UTC).
12:33 -- Engines on.
12:34 -- POS, Nose controller, and CAR instrument started normally.
12:48 -- take off.
12:54 -- transit to the CF.
12:57 -- orbited the CF for BRDF measurements at 600’ agl under clear sky.
13:10 -- very clear sky especially to the east of the CF, but some isolated clouds to the the southwest.
13:11 -- end of BRDF circles.
13:12 -- climbed to 2000’ agl.
13:14 -- orbited the CF for BRDF measurements at 2000’ agl.
13:15 -- clear sky especially to the east of the CF, but some isolated clouds to the the southwest.
13:20 -- Twin Otter International reported above J-31.
13:25 -- end of BRDF circles.
13:28 -- climbed to 6000’ agl.
13:34 -- orbited the CF for BRDF measurements at 6000’ agl.
13:45 -- clear sky especially to the east of the CF, but some isolated clouds to the the southwest.
13:51 -- end of BRDF circles. Lamont City now visible from 6000’ agl.
13:53 -- climbed to 12000’ agl.
13:57 -- the cloud appeared to be dissipating, but very slowly.
14:00 -- orbited the CF for BRDF measurements at 12000’ agl.
14:12 -- Cu clouds popped up towards the horizon.
14:14 -- end of BRDF circles.
14:18 -- descended down to ~600’ agl.
14:25 -- orbited the CF for BRDF measurements at 600’ agl.
14:33 -- end of BRDF circles.
14:34 -- climbed to 2000’ agl.
14:36 -- orbited the CF for BRDF measurements at 2000’ agl.
14:37 -- clear sky especially to the east of the CF, but some isolated clouds to the the southwest. Very calm and very light wind.
14:44 -- end of BRDF circles.
14:45 -- small plane reported beneath J-31.
14:47 -- heading back to Ponca City.
14:52 -- CAR shutdown.
14:55 -- touchdown.
15:02 -- Engines off.
