 |
 |
Overview
Science Plan
A day in the life of a CLEX researcher
Forecasting Page
Satellite Overpasses
Contact Information
List of CLEX publications
Related Links
Previous Cloud Layer EXperiments
The Canadian CloudSat/CALIPSO Validation Project (C3VP)
CloudSat
CALIPSO
Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA)
Colorado State University Department of Atmospheric Science
Daily Summary for 5 November 2006
Quick links:
A warm front moved over Southern Ontario overnight, leaving behind a large area of mid-level cloud cover. Drier air from the west was not able to erode the clouds until well after the flight. Mid-level clouds were observed at CARE continuously for over 10 hours.
Below are photographs of the clouds over Southern Ontario at various places and times. These are textbook "CLEX clouds". All images taken by Curtis Seaman.
Clouds near King City radar ~10:00 LT.
Clouds above CARE ~11:00 LT.
Clouds above CARE during C3VP flight operations (~13:30 LT).
Clouds near Pearson Airport, Toronto ~16:00 LT.
Flight SummaryThe flight targeted the CloudSat overpass at ~13:30 LT. The overpass had nearly 3 km of very thin cirrus above a nice mixed phase cloud layer with scattered clouds below that. The target cloud layer (mixed-phase) had cloud top temps of ~-22C. The cloud had the classic CLEX profile of liquid associated with it! CLEX extended the C3VP mission with about 1.3 hours of extra time over the CARE site (porposing through the liquid cloud layer over the CARE site). ATC issues prevented significant vertical altitude shifting and heading changes near the CARE site. Overall, it was a good case to wet our feet with.
Instrument update: The 2D-S did not work. The SatCom data modem was able to download CIRA satellite imagery (which really helped us pick out which part of the CloudSat overpass to focus on). Great job with those, Stan!
MODIS IR image and CloudSat swath during the overpass
:
GOES composite image and CloudSat swath during the overpass courtesy NRL
Preliminary backscatter vs. time plots from the ground based lidar at CARE at 1064 nm (top) and 532 nm. Images courtesy Kevin Strawbridge (Environment Canada).
Preliminary backscatter vs. time plots from the upward and downward looking airborne lidars at 1024 nm (top) and 532 nm during the CloudSat & CALIPSO overpass time. Images courtesy Kevin Strawbridge (Environment Canada).
Satellite Images
Images are every 4 hours beginning at 0045 UTC.
GOES-12 IR courtesy of RAP @ UCAR
GOES-12 Visible (during daylight hours) and Near IR (night) albedo from CIRA.
GOES-12 IR (10.7 µm) brightness temperature from CIRA. The color scale begins at 0 °C with an increment of -10 °C between color changes.
GOES-12 experimental cloud phase from CIRA. Blue represents ice particles, red is liquid droplets above freezing and yellow represents supercooled liquid droplets. Gray areas are clear (no cloud) based on an IR cloud mask.
1815 UTC GOES-12 icing product from NRL
Surface Observations
Surface METARs every 4 hours beginning at 00 UTC courtesy RAP @ UCAR
Model AnalysesRadiosonde Soundings
12 UTC Maniwaki, QC courtesy University of Wyoming
