2014-07-14 (Flight #2038) |
Aircraft Flight SummaryDate: 2014-07-14 |
Flight Track Map
Larger image (new window) Download KMZ/KML File (right click, save as) |
Satellite Image from MODIS
MODIS/Terra larger image (morning) (new window) MODIS/Aqua larger image (afternoon) (new window) |
Satellite Images from GOES-13 |
CAR - (QuickLook)
Imagery from CAR Instrument
Click browse image thumbnail to load more detailed version (images open in a new window)
| Flight Direction | Flight Direction |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Flight Mission Details
This was P-3B transit flight out of Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia to Bloomfield Municipal Airport, Colorado. The CAR instrument was operated during the transit.
Key instruments on P-3B include:
1. LARGE (Langley Aerosol Research GroupE): aerosols.
2. PDS (Project Data System): base meteorological and navigational measurements.
3. TD LIF: NO2, HNO3, PNs, ANs;
4. DLH (Diode Laser Hygrometer), H20.
5. DACOM (Differential Absorption CO Measurement): CO, CH4
6. DFGAS (Difference Frequency Generation Absorption Spectrometer): CH20
7. Chemiluminescence (NCAR 4-channel Chemiluminescence Instrument): O3, NO2, NO, NOy
8. PTR-MS (Proton-Transfer-Reaction Mass Spectrometer): non-methane hydrocarbons.
9. AVOCET (Atmospheric Vertical Observations of CO2 in the Earth's Troposphere): CO2.
10. CAR (Cloud Absorption Radiometer): scattered light and surface radiance that is reflected off of surfaces.
11. Fast Ethane Spectrometer: ethane, methane.
Flight Path, Timing, and Measurements
Approximate time in UTC (US east coast time - 4 hours, Colorado, -6 hours). Activities during CAR flight 2038 on July 14, 2014 out of Wallops Flight Facility. Observations by CAR operator/PI, Charles Gatebe, accompanied by CAR engineer, Kurt Rush.
13:30 -- inspect the CAR/CANS physically.
14:29 -- CANS power on.
14:50 -- aircraft door closed.
15:00 -- aircraft engines power on.
15:05 -- start taxing.
15:11 -- take off.
15:15 -- CAR power on.
15:16 -- CAR door open. Cryopump on.
15:20 -- downward imaging mode.
15:21 -- Filter wheel at 2.2 µm.
15:28 -- pictures taken. Cloudy above and below the aircraft.
15:32 -- filter wheel in automatic mode.
15:33 -- thick cloud below aircraft, but lots of Ci above.
15:44 -- filter wheel looks unstable.
15:50 -- filter wheel instability seems to be related to gain setting. Data seem to be good.
15:58 -- Ch3/470 nm channel seems to saturates over bright clouds.
16:00 -- over clouds; Ch3/470 nm seems to saturate.
16:02 -- over clouds; Ch4/682 nm seems to saturate.
16:07 -- over clouds, Ch3 & Ch4 seem to saturate in the forward direction.
16:13 -- very thick clouds.
16:16 -- over clouds - very strong signal in Ch1/340nm and Ch2/380 nm. Ch 3 & Ch 4 seem to saturate.
16:19 -- thick cloud below, broken clouds above/P-3.
16:26 -- flying very close to clouds/skimming.
16:27 -- inside cloud.
16:29 -- filter wheel seems to saturate or unstable.
16:30 -- 1.6 µm saturates over a bright cloud.
16:36 -- cirrus clouds above.
16:38 -- CAR in imaging mode. Thick Ci above; lots of scattered clouds below.
16:43 -- thick clouds above; scattered clouds below.
17:02 -- broken clouds below; few thin Ci above. Nav temp= 1.5°C.
17:08 -- pictures inside the plane.
17:19 -- scattered clouds. Alt. 6987 m. Temp. 0.90°C.
17:49 -- cloudy below and above the aircraft.Temp, 0.56°C. current draw, 1.55A.
17:51 -- thick clouds below.
17:59 -- inside cloud; very thick. Ch 3/470 nm seems to saturates.
18:06 -- inside a cloud; not in the diffusion domain. Ch 3 & Ch 4 seem to saturate.. Temp, 0.07°C.
18:08 -- turn on heater 1 and 2. Current draw, 5.05A.
18:10 -- fans power on. Current draw, 5.42A.
18:22 -- exiting the clouds.
18:24 -- above clouds. Scattered Ci above. Nav temp = -1.07°C. Current draw = 5.36A.
18:30 -- 1.6 µm channel saturates when looking at thick Ci.
18:36 -- Nav temp = 0.35°C. Alt, 7035m.
18:41 -- thick clouds below. Nav. temp = 0.5°C. Current draw, 5.26A.
18:43 -- nice, uniform clouds.
18:53 -- filter wheel in automatic mode.
18:56 -- scattered clouds; pictures taken.
19:01 -- no clouds below, but scattered clouds above. Nav temp = 1.26°C.
19:14 -- scattered clouds below.
19:23 -- scattered clouds below and clear sky above.
19:26 -- current draw, 3.04A, Nav temp, 1.56°C.
19:36 -- scattered clouds. Hazy.
19:39 -- filter wheel in automatic mode. Approaching Denver.
19:40 -- start descent (from 7000 m); heading towards south of Denver.
19:45 -- power supply vibrations. Kurt uses a plastic water bottle to dump out the vibrations. Alt., 5446 m, Nav temp., 5°C.
19:53 -- heater 1 and 2 powered down. Nav temp., 10.5°C, Alt., 4415m, current draw, 1.83A.
19:55 -- active roll working well. Aircraft roll, 20°.
20:00 -- closing the door.
20:01 -- CAR powered down.
20:02 -- cyopump powered down.
20:14 -- landing.
20:20 -- stop taxing.
20:22 -- CANS powered down.
20:24 -- aircraft engines off.
