2008-04-13 (Flight #2004) |
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Aircraft Flight SummaryDate: 2008-04-13 |
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Flight Mission Details
Overview:
This was the 4th flight out of Fairbanks, Alaska. Preflight goals included flying below CALIPSO track, spirals under CALIPSO/OMI track with NASA B-200 and CAR BRDF circles over Elson Lagoon.
P-3B instrument payload:
AATS: Ames Airborne Tracking Sunphotomter (AATS) measured direct solar beam transmission at 14 wavelengths between 354 and 2139 nm in narrow channels with bandwidths between 2 and 5.6 nm for the wavelengths less than 1640 nm and 17.3 nm for the 2139 nm channel. AOD measurements impacted by high cirrus.
AERO3X: measured aerosol extinction and scattering at 405 nm and 675 nm, scattering in Forward and Back directions at both wavelengths and NO2 mixing ratio. No aethalometer measurements during CAR BRDF measurements.
BBR: Broad Band Radiometer measured: Down- and Up-welling Solar (0.2-3.6 µm) and IR Irradiance (4.2-42 micron). Cloud contamination an issue.
CAR - Cloud Absorption Radiometer measured angular distribution of scattered radiation and acquired imagery of cloud and snow/ice surface features. BRDF of high clouds.
CCN Counter - Continuous-Flow Streamwise Thermal Gradient Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN) Counter (CFSTGC) - counted the fraction of aerosol particles that become droplets when exposed to a given water vapor supersaturation (RH > 100%). Worked well entire flight. No issues reported.
COBALT - Carbon monOxide By Attenuated Laser Transmission (COBALT), an autonomous instrument based on off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy took measurements of carbon monoxide. Measured CO values from 110 to 210 ppb.
HiGEAR - Hawii Group for Environmental Aerosol Research (HiGEAR) suite of instruments measured size resolved aerosols. Least successful flight so far. No issues reported with SP2/AMS.
PDS Project Data System (PDS) measured base meteorological and navigational measurements. No issues reported.
REVEAL - The Research Environment for Vehicle-Embedded Analysis on Linux (REVEAL) system is a prototype next-generation tool for aerospace vehicle sensor webs and the future Earth Observation System. The new system was under test. Problem with Iridium phone over northern most latitudes.
SSFR -Solar Spectral Flux Radiometer measured spectrally resolved solar irradiance (380 nm to 2200 nm) over snow/ice and clouds. No issues reported. Integration time change due to signal saturation.
Flight Path, Timing, and Measurements
Approximate time in UTC (Alaska time - 8 hours). Activities during CAR flight 2004 on April 13, 2008 out of Fairbanks International Airport, Alaska heading north towards Barrow. Notes by the CAR operator/PI, Charles Gatebe.
19:07 -- Engine on.
19:19 -- Taxing.
19:22 -- CAR Cyopump power on.
19:25 -- takeoff. Fairbanks weather - sunny, cirrus clouds.
19:27 -- CAR power on. Very cloudy.
19:55 -- descending from altitude 6858 m msl.
20:02 -- no clouds - clear top to bottom.
20:04 -- CAR 0.472µm saturated. Very bright surface.
20:08 -- Cirrus clouds above aircraft. In situ instruments report dust.
20:21 -- Descending 500 ft/min.
20:34 -- 34 minutes to Barrow. Cirrus above.
21:08 -- B-200 reporting cloud top at approx.4900 m msl. AOD ~0.8 (0.499 µm).High RH (80%) reported.
21:32 -- CAR scanning in the starboard from zenith to nadir.
21:35 -- Aerosol layer reported between 6700 and 8500 m msl. Cloud layer reported between 4500 and 5100 m msl.
22:41 -- Spirals.
23:18 -- over clouds. Ascending to 8500 m msl.
23:28 -- setting up for BRDF measurements 1000 ft above clouds.
23:33 -- BRDF circle #1
23:35 -- BRDF circle #2
23:37 -- BRDF circle #3
23:39 -- BRDF circle #4
23:41 -- BRDF circle #5
23:43 -- BRDF circle #6
23:51 -- straight and level leg over clouds.
23:53 -- Spiral descent - square pattern.
24:29 -- CAR door closed.
24:30 -- CAR power off.
24:35 -- Landed.
24:45 -- Engine off.
