2014-08-02 (Flight #2051) |
Aircraft Flight SummaryDate: 2014-08-02 |
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 thirteenth flight out of Bloomfield Municipal Airport, Colorado. The aircraft took measurements over the six D-AQ sites: Fort Collins/site-1, Platteville/site-2, Golden NREL/site-3, BAO Tower/site-4, Denver/La Casa/site-5, and Chatfield Park/site-6.
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 (Colorado, -6 hours). Activities during CAR flight 2050 on August 12, 2014 out of Bloomfield Municipal Airport. Observations by CAR operator/PI, Charles Gatebe.
13:10 -- Preflight checks done. Powered CAR and CANS instruments. All systems seemed ok.
13:24 -- running the CAR with modified LabView code, which is supposed to correct the math problem in the X-link.
13:35 -- aircraft door closed.
13:42 -- aircraft engines start.
13:47 -- taxiing
13:48 -- Ch 9 set to 2.1 µm.
13:53 -- take off.
13:54 -- CAR door fully open.
13:55 -- Ch 9 shows a spike in the data. Need to investigate.
14:05 -- missed approach at Christman Air Field, Fort Collins. Alt. = 1581 m. Spiral up begins.
14:09 -- very clear sky. Took some nice pictures.
14:13 -- haze layer. Alt. = 4056 m.
14:19 -- took pictures over Fort Collins. Alt. = 5000 m.
14:21 -- end of spiral up over Fort Collins. Alt. = 5534 m. Heading to Platteville.
14:27 -- filter wheel channels noisy.
14:33 -- looks like a cryopump problem.
14:36 -- circled around Greely at a high altitude as ordered by air traffic controllers.
14:40 -- Ozone = 60 ppb at Greely. Alt. = 2804 m.
14:48 -- took nice pictures during missed approach at the Weld County airport, Greeley.
14:50 -- heading toward Platteville. Low level flight. Alt. = 1749 m.
14:57 -- approaching La Casa. Balloon seen at around 300 m ascending.
15:02 -- spiral up over Golden. Very clear sky.
15:11 -- Alt. = 4821 m. Ozone = 60 ppb.
15:15 -- end of spiral at Golden. Heading toward BAO.
15:19 -- spiral down at BAO tower.
15:25 -- took pictures over BAO tower. Very clear sky.
15:33 -- missed approach. Took pictures of the tower.
15:36 -- heading towards La Casa.
15:40 -- spiral up over La Casa.
15:44 -- took nice pictures over Denver/La Casa.
15:47 -- trees seem to darken urban areas.
15:55 -- end of spiral up at La Casa. Heading to Chatfield. Filter wheel working great.
16:00 -- spiral down over Chatfield.
16:10 -- Ozone = 60 ppb.
16:12 -- end of spiral. Heading towards Golden.
16:16 -- Ozone greater than 40 ppb.
16:17 -- Filter wheel channels unstable. Noise increasing.
16:18 -- reset the cryopump.
16:31 -- Alt. = 1580 m. Missed approach. Fort Collins. Spiral up begins. Filter wheel channels noisy.
16:38 -- very clear sky, no clouds.
16:44 -- Ozone = 65 ppb as reported.
16:45 -- end of spiral.
16:46 -- reset cryopump.
16:49 -- Filter wheel channels noisy.
16:50 -- Filter wheel starting to stabilize. Heading toward Platteville.
16:52 -- spiral down at Platteville.
17:03 -- Ozone = 60 ppb.
17:05 -- Filter wheel unstable. Monitoring the dark current.
17:07 -- reset the filter wheel. Heading toward Greely for missed approach.
17:08 -- dark current fluctuating a lot.
17:09 -- Alt. = 1428 m. Missed approach at at Weld County airport, Greeley.
17:15 -- passing over Platteville. Clear sky.
17:20 -- dark current still fluctuating a lot.
17:22 -- La Casa, Coma City. Heading toward Golden.
17:30 -- took pictures over Golden. Clouds starting to form over the mountain. Very little change in pollution compared to the morning flight.
17:41 -- end of spiral. Heading towards BAO tower.
17:45 -- spiral down at BAO tower.
17:51 -- Clear sky, but clouds starting to form over the mountains.
17:57 -- Ch 4 signal stronger than the rest of the channels at BAO tower. Interesting/Investigate.
17:59 -- Alt. = 1569 m. Missed approach at Parkland airport.
18:02 -- Heading toward La Casa. Ozone = 60 ppb.
18:07 -- Spiral up over La Casa.
18:13 -- clear sky over Denver, but clouds starting to form over the mountains.
18:19 -- Alt. = 5270 m. Filter wheel channels unstable.
18:20 -- end of spiral over La Casa. Heading towards Chatfield.
18:30 -- fair weather Cu over Hatfield.
18:37 -- end of spiral.
18:39 -- CAR door closed.
18:40 -- CAR powered off.
18:45 -- landing.
18:49 -- stop taxiing.
18:50 -- aircraft engines power off.
