The CLEX-1 coordinated data collection
period proceeded from 21-29 June 1996. This summary document contains
textual and graphical documentation that provides an overview
of the operations and data collected for each day of the field
campaign. The Daily Operations Summary Index can be used
as a "quick-look" guideline for case study identification.
Once the user identifies a particular date for analysis, more
detailed operations notes, logs, maps, comments and forecasts,
can be found in the specific operations summary binder for that
day (the user will be pointed to the appropriate binder).
Note that some data collection was also completed prior to 21
June 1996 during engineering test-flights of the cloud-radar on
the DC-8 (specifically, 6/10-6/15, 1996).
Individual sections in this document contain a summary of operations,
select written/transcribed logs, and satellite images with aircraft
tracks overlays. These notes were composited from operations
logs and video taken by scientists in the CSU Ops. Center, University
of Wyoming King Air and NASA DC-8 aircraft, and the CART-ARM Site
near Ponca City, Oklahoma. Each daily summary begins with a statement
of the primary mission for the day and is followed by discussion/notes
from the mission, including a tabular description of the data
collected by platform. More descriptions and notes concerning
data collected by specific platforms will be added as they are
received.
Table 1 provides a breakdown by operations
day of observational platform participation during CLEX-1. An
indication is provided as to the mission goal for the day, operational
status of the platforms and the degree of coordinated data collection
between platforms. Ground-based instrumentation at the ARM-CART
site are collectively grouped into a single category "CART-ARM"
in Table 1 (further detail for each instrument platform is provided
in the daily summary sections). For clarity, the "DRI Radiometer"
and "PSU Radar" refer to the Desert Research Institute
mobile microwave radiometer and the Penn. State University cloud
radar respectively.
For questions regarding data acquisition and location on a given
day, first consult the appropriate operations summary binder for
that day. If further questions or problems arise concerning the
data, please contact:
Mr. Don Reinke, CIRA
reinke@cira.colostate.edu
(970) 491-8465
Table 1.
Dates of data collection by platform
| PLATFORM | 6/10-6/15 | 6/21 | 6/22 | 6/23 | 6/24 | 6/25 | 6/26 | 6/27 | 6/28 | 6/29 | 7/1-7/2 |
| Ops. Priority | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | - | R | C | C |
| King Air | - | X | $ | * | * | * | * | - | * | * | - |
| DC08 | X | - | $ | - | * | X | * | X | - | - | X |
| DRI Radiometer | - | - | # | # | * | # | * | # | - | - | - |
| PSU Radar | - | # | # | # | # | # | # | # | * | # | - |
| CART-ARM | - | # | # | # | # | # | # | # | * | # | - |
| SSM/I | X | X | $ | X | X | * | * | X | X | X | X |
| SSM/T2 | X | X | X | * | * | * | * | X | X | * | X |
| GOES 1-min. | - | - | - | - | * | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| GOES 7.5-min. | - | - | $ | - | * | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| GOES 15-min. | X | X | $ | * | * | * | * | X | X | X | X |
| ASOS 5-min. | - | X | $ | * | * | * | * | X | X | X | - |
Daily Summary: 21 June 1996
(Operations notes/data details: Binder 62296)
The University of Wyoming King Air departed Laramie, Wyoming for a ferry flight to Ponca City (PNC), Oklahoma at 0630 MDT. Patchy early morning mid-level cloudiness was observed in eastern Colorado through central Nebraska. The King Air briefly sampled non-precipitating mid-level clouds (altocumulus) 70 miles south and east of Akron, Colorado at an elevation of 23,000 ft. MSL. The clouds dissipated rapidly however, and the King Air then discontinued sampling and completed the ferry flight to Ponca City, Oklahoma, arriving at 1130 CDT.
Final preparations for the NASA DC-8 participation in CLEX were completed this day in Dallas, Texas. A new engine was flight tested and the DC-8 was cleared for research flights beginning 06/22.
All equipment was operational at the CART-ARM site with the exception of the DRI radiometer. Radiation and sounding data were collected (Table 6/21).
Table 6/21
CART-ARM Data Collection; 6/21/96
| PLATFORM | |
| CSU Raobs. | |
| CSU Micro Pulse Lidar | |
| CSU Radiation | |
| CSU PRT-6 | |
| DRI Radiometer | |
| PSU Radar | |
| ARM Raobs. | |
| ARM Radiometer |
DRI Radiometer= Desert Research Institute, dual-frequency m-wave
radiometer
CART-ARM Log (Dr. John Davis, CSU)
On June 21, the morning sky was predominantly clear. Later in
the morning some patches of middle level clouds were observed
in the area but they were of limited horizontal extent. Routine
data collection continued. More PRT6 vs. IR interferogram data
were collected. No usable data from Micro Pulse Lidar was obtained
due to a lack of cloud target. Sondes were launched at 0847,
1218 and 1805 local time. Ken Eis and the King Air crew arrived
in Ponca City at approximately 1130 local. Ken was picked up
and brought to the site and then returned to the hotel. Professor
Stephen Cox arrived in Ponca City that same evening.
Daily Summary: 22 June 1996
(Operations notes/data details: Binder 62296)
Forecasts called for mid-level cloudiness to occur in central
and northern Kansas during the early morning hours associated
with detrained moisture from nocturnal MCS's, and tropical moisture
streaming over a frontal boundary situated in northern Kansas.
The King Air departed PNC at 1027 UTC for coordinated flight operations
with the NASA DC-8 in east-central Kansas (DC-8 departure from
FTW at ~1200 UTC), and coordinated data collection involving both
aircraft (Table 6/22a) proceeded from approximately 1230 UTC to
1445 UTC over central and southeastern Kansas . The airborne data
collection also took place coincident with the 1356 UTC over-flight
of the DMSP F-11 satellite (SSM/I). Clouds sampled by the aircraft
were characterized as primarily non-precipitating, complex layers
of mid-level cloud associated with dissipating convection situated
to the east of the operations area. During coordinated sampling
the DC-8 executed a linear flight pattern over the track of the
King Air at approximately 35,000 ft. PMS instrumentation on the
King Air suggested the presence of glaciated clouds with ice particle
concentrations approaching 50/L, mixed phase clouds, and water
dominated clouds (LWC <= 0.3 g/m^3). A sounding was taken
in the vicinity of the ops. area by the King Air at 1424 UTC (during
a descent from 24000 to 6000 feet; The King Air was limited to
25,000 ft because its O2 supply was empty). The King
Air landed in Wichita, Kansas at 1522 UTC to refuel and then departed
for a short flight back to PNC. This was the "best"
day of coordinated data collection between the DC-8 and the King
Air.
Table 6/22a
COORDINATED Dual Aircraft/Satellite Cloud-Mission: Data 6/22/96
| PLATFORM |
| |||||
| King Air | ||||||
| DC-8 | ||||||
| ASOS | ||||||
| SSM/I | ||||||
| SSM/T2 | ||||||
| GOES 15-min. | ||||||
| GOES 7.5-min. | ||||||
| GOES 1-min. |
All platforms at the CART-ARM site including the DRI dual-frequency
radiometer were nominally operational (Table 6/22b; CART-ARM Log),
soundings and radiation measurements were collected.
Table 6/22b
CART-ARM Data Collection; 6/22/96
| PLATFORM | |
| CSU Raobs. | |
| CSU Micro Pulse Lidar | |
| CSU Radiation | |
| CSU PRT-6 | |
| DRI Radiometer | |
| PSU Cloud Radar | |
| ARM Raobs. | |
| ARM Radiometer |
062296 Platform/Location Specific Logs:
King Air* Flight Log 22 June 1996
1027 UTC - 1522 UTC
*Note: For reference when watching videos, King Air tail number is
N2UW (referred to by FAA and DC-8 as "Two Uniform Whiskey")
The NASA DC-8 was referred to as "NASA 717".
Chronological Flight Log (All times UTC):
10:27 Flight preparation; Take-off runway 17 requested, cleared by ATC to
FL200.
10:35 Depart PNC for ICT, cleared to FL120. Several inversions in sounding noted off the
surface by UW flight scientist Glen Gordon.
10:40 Cleared to FL150.
10:43 Cleared to FL180.
10:47 Cleared to FL200. PNC3 way point added (CART site 36 04.26 N 99 12.24 W)
10:50 5 inversions noted by Gordon, "weird looking sounding", dry aloft over
Wellington, Kansas.
10:53 Requested flight track (heading 057 Deg at 150 kts.) between ICT and EMP
A line of clouds situated ahead of the flight track; and clouds
overhead.
11:00 KA climbing to FL 230, passed through lowest mid-level deck.
11:03 Virga out mid-level cloud bases. 10/L ice crystals noted in cloud.
11:04 In cloud-base at next level.
11:05 FL 240, in-cloud, 20/L ice concentrations noted.
11:06 Cloud base estimated at 230-240. 30/L ice concentrations noted
with added comment that the crystals were "fairly big".
11:08 FL 270 requested to get above the cloud tops.
11:12 No LWC's observed in the clouds.
11:14 Close to cloud top ~FL270; 5/L ice crystal concentration noted.
11:16 PMS probes still seeing small ice crystals but the KA is out of
visible cloud.
11:17 KA position 38 41.1 N 96 16.7 W.
11:21 Ken Eis directs pilot to head NW and suggests a racetrack pattern
with legs being 10 miles apart.
11:36 Complex layers of clouds present with apparent Kelvin-Helmholz waves.
11:38 KA in between cloud layers; ice crystals precipitating out in between
the layers (PMS detects crystals).
11:40 In lenticular shaped layer from the side near the top. A small amount
of water is noted; "patchy" cloud.
11:42 KA radar indicates convective cell 70 miles ahead on flight track
heading.
11:44 KA FL 245; descending into cloud top; clouds are water with low LWC's.
11:45 KA descends to FL 240 and briefly leaves the cloud then reentered.
All ice crystals noted in this section of the cloud.
11:46 KA location is close to ICT.
11:47 FL 242. Ken Eis notes multiple/complex layers. Thin/scattered
layers with ill-defined edges. PMS probes still picking up ice.
11:49 KA radar indicates cell 50 miles off right wing- dissipating.
11:53 KA in-cloud; liquid water noted; clouds are remnants of thunderstorms
and the layer is broken to overcast in composite.
11:55 In a thin layer.
11:58 More turbulence noted in the layer of air between the clouds. Layer
above aircraft precipitating ice crystals.
11:59 Virga present ahead of the aircraft track.
12:10 KA requests a flight heading of 060 Degrees; in between cloud layers.
12:14 DC-8 in vicinity; Decision not to do sounding until the DC-8 leaves
the area. Dew point depression in-between layers is 20 C.
12:15 Convective cell noted on radar along heading at 60 miles out.
12:23 Entering cloud-deck; lots of ice crystals falling with diameters of
~1 mm. Dew point depression 3.9 C.
12:31
| Initial contact with NASA 717 made.
12:43
12:43 KA at cloud-top; FL 265; back in cloud at FL 262
12:45 Heading 335 Degrees. Pilot notes that NASA 717 "should" be over
the top of the King Air's position.
12:46 Radio contact NASA 717. NASA 717 FL 350.
12:47 KA turns to a heading of 235 Deg., position 38 40.0 N 95 43.0 W.
12:49 KA in and out of cloud top at FL 260.
12:53 Ken Eis suggests altitude block for KA of FL 250-260.
12:54 KA FL 250.
12:55 KA FL 254; in-cloud; water cloud with low LWC's (less than 0.3 g/m^3).
12:58 KA broke out of cloud at FL 254 on southwest leg. KA posit is
38 16.2 N 96 33.7 W, heading is 235 Deg. Ken Eis suggests heading
northeast from this point.
13:00 NASA 717 posit 38 33.0 N 96 28.0 W; presently flying a 210 Deg. heading
down and back from this point.
13:01 KA going to a 030 Deg. heading (match the DC-8 leg) at FL 250;
clouds dissipating at old location along the 235 Deg. heading.
13:02 Computer/power problem noted on DC-8.
13:03 KA FL256 heading for a thin cloud layer directly ahead.
13:04 KA in cloud. NASA posit 138 radial at 068 Deg. on Salina VOR.
Located 25 miles away from the KA (some surprise noted).
13:05 KA Video shows small turrets on top of cloud deck.
13:06 KA in cloud; only liquid water present.
13:07 KA in cloud; mixed phase conditions encountered. KA change to FL 252.
13:08 KA turns toward ICT (heading 210 Deg.).
13:10 KA on ICT VOR 049 Deg. 71 mile radial Heading 210 Deg.; 050 Deg.
46 mile radial Heading 025 Deg.
13:10 LWC's <= 0.5 g/m^3 noted in cloud.
13:15 KA gets a visual fix on DC-8 above.
13:17 NASA 717 will operate with the following pattern; Off the Salina
Kansas VOR 096 Deg. at 65 mile radial 150 Deg. heading; 123 Deg.
at 121 mile radial heading 330 Deg. FL 350 and legs of 70 miles.
13:18 NASA 717 posit. 37 38.5 N 95 37.5 W at end point of pattern. King
Air should be under the track.
13:21 KA heading 105 Deg. for 70 miles. Clouds are dissipating.
13:27 NASA 717 VOR 060@82 miles off ICT VOR heading 150 Deg.
13:31 KA heading for intercept of NASA 717 sampling line.
13:35 KA FL 257 (block 250-260). In-cloud.
13:38 Heading 150 Degrees along same leg as NASA 717 (almost on NASA 717
line). Still in-cloud.
13:39 KA line is 26 mile leg along 123@121 miles on Salina VOR. FL 257.
Still in-cloud.
13:40 NASA 717 position 37 45.0 N 95 41.0 W.
13:44 KA on 080 Deg. radial out of ICT.
13:46 KA course reversal, pilots states DC-8 should be right over them
in the turn.
13:53 Cloud thinning at KA location. KA heading 330 Deg., 61 miles south
east of the north point.
13:56 DMSP overpass. NASA 717 southbound 030 Deg. at 87 mile radial off
ICT VOR (73 miles in front of the KA).
13:56 KA in clear air. Altostratus noted above the plane with a cirrus
layer above that (KA FL 252).
13:58 KA in-cloud; FL 255; PMS detects no liquid, all ice.
14:00 KA still in-cloud; only ice present (no LWC detected).
14:01 KA out of cloud.
14:07 KA on 240 Deg. heading at FL 270. Patchy cloud present.
14:10 KA turns; in and out of cloud-top.
14:15 KA in-cloud at FL 270, PMS indicates mixed phase cloud. NASA 717
on line 065 Deg. @82 mile radial off of ICT VOR. KA on 062 Deg.
at 86 mile radial off of the ICT VOR.
14:22 KA requests permission to do a "figure-8" flight pattern from
FL 240 to the surface, with a descent rate of 1000 ft/min.
14:24 KA executing "figure-8" descent (sounding) from FL230 to FL060.
14:26 NASA 717 will depart vicinity by 14:45.
14:46 KA at FL 116 descending for FL060 into ICT for landing. Lots
of cirrus present. (posit 120 miles SE of Salina).
14:57 KA on descent into ICT (sampling finished).
15:22 KA on the ground in ICT. Fuel and head back to PNC. Sampling
done for the day.
Note on figure-8 decent. The King Air Pilot when asked to make
a decent sounding can spiral down but the spiral tends to drift
with the wind. A Figure-eight decent allows the pilot to descend
with the axis of the 8 along the mean wind vector. The pilot stretches
the 8 along its axis to nullify the drift - KE.
CART-ARM Log (Dr. John Davis, CSU)
Some scattered cirrus were observed upon arrival at the site at 0820 on June 22. Cloud conditions changed by mid morning to scattered fair weather Cu under occasional cirrus patches. IR interferometer vs. PRT6 data was collected early and then the PRT6 was deployed outside the trailer for a more continuous data collection capability. Routine data collection from the surface radiometers and the surface meteorology continued. The Micro Pulse Lidar was apparently saturating from the background radiance from the low Cu. An attempt was made to insert a neutral density filter in an attempt to prevent the saturation, but after installation there was not sufficient cloudiness to check its effectiveness. The near IR interferometer was deployed and initial clear sky observations of the direct solar radiance obtained. Sondes were launched at 0825, 1130 and 1745 local. A somewhat alarming situation arose when it was discovered that several of the PC computers had been corrupted with a computer virus. The NOINT virus was detected on various floppy and system discs and steps were taken to eradicate the problem. On this afternoon it appeared that the IR interferometer was not responding with the proper sensitivity, a condition that may have been caused by a collection of a small amount of ice in the detector's dewar. It was decided that in the absence of extended layer cloudiness efforts would be focused on collecting alternate data that may be of use in a supporting mode to the CLEX effort.
Daily Summary: 23 June 1996
(Operations notes/data details: Binder 62396)
The forecast called for mid-level cloudiness to occur in association with a tropical plume of moisture flowing into northwestern Kansas, and wrapping into Nebraska and northwestern Missouri. Dry conditions were forecast and observed over the CART-ARM Site. Based on satellite imagery, a single aircraft mission involving only the King Air was flown in west-central Kansas from approximately 1545-1745 UTC. The King Air sampled a small patch of thin mid-level cloud (dissipating) coincident with the SSM/T2 overpass at 1640 UTC. The cloud sampled by the King Air did not appear to be associated with convection. Equipment problems (data system failure) prevented further collection of data (including a vertical sounding and an albedo run over the CART-site) after 1744 UTC. The NASA DC-8 was down for ground-crew rest on this day.
Table 6/23a
COORDINATED Single Aircraft/Satellite Cloud-Mission: Data 6/23/96
| PLATFORM |
| |||||
| King Air | ||||||
| DC-8 | ||||||
| ASOS | ||||||
| SSM/I | ||||||
| SSM/T2 | ||||||
| GOES 15-min. | ||||||
| GOES 7.5-min. | ||||||
| GOES 1-min. |
All platforms at the CART-ARM site including the DRI dual-frequency radiometer were nominally operational (Table 6/23b; CART-ARM Log), soundings and radiation measurements were collected.
Table 6/23b
CART-ARM Data Collection; 6/23/96
| PLATFORM | |
| CSU Raobs. | |
| CSU Micro Pulse Lidar | |
| CSU Radiation | |
| CSU PRT-6 | |
| DRI Radiometer | |
| PSU Cloud Radar | |
| ARM Raobs. | |
| ARM Radiometer |
062396 Platform/Location Specific Logs:
King Air* Flight Log 23 June 1996
1546 UTC - 1748 UTC
*Note: For reference when watching videos, King Air tail number is
N2UW (referred to by FAA and DC-8 as "Two Uniform Whiskey")
The NASA DC-8 was referred to as "NASA 717".
Chronological Flight Log (All times UTC):
15:43 Flight preparation.
15:46 Take off.
15:57 Discussion of being in cloud at satellite overpass at 1630 UTC
near a position 31 miles north of Vance AFB. Clear skies noted.
16:02 Winds 200 Deg. at 7 knots; sounding reveals low level inversion
(cap).
16:04 Decision made to go for clouds above the Cu deck. KA located over
Cherokee, Oklahoma; FL 200.
16:08 Clouds noted to be quite distant.
16:10 KA over Alva, Oklahoma. Liberal Kansas 122 miles away.
16:12 Cirrus noted above KA; "slim-pickings"; decision made to go for
lower clouds at the time of the satellite overpass. KA descends
to FL 150 at a heading of 200 Degrees.
16:19 In thin cloud (3-4 miles in extent) near FL 150.
16:20 In water cloud; droplet concentration 200/cm^3 with drop diameters
of approximately 8 microns. Winds from the south. Plan to fly
racetrack pattern. (small drops at low concentrations noted).
16:22 Exiting thin, broken layer of clouds at FL 150-160. Vertical extent
of the clouds is approximately 2000 ft. Clouds are optically thin
and intermittent. Single layer of cloud.
16:26 KA heading north.
16:28 In visually thin cloud. Droplet concentrations of 300/cm^3, cloud
thickens and then thins; flight leg 2 minutes.
16:32 South end of the cloud deck thicker than the north end.
16:34 Cloud dissipating. Cloudy areas approximately
300 m with clear areas being larger than cloudy areas. Some
cloud-elements up to 1 km in size. Droplet concentrations near
350/cm^3.
16:36 High clouds visible out to Colorado.
16:40 SSMT/2 Overpass.
16:41 KA in and out of clear air.
16:46 Winds light from 200 degrees; clouds dissipating.
16:49 KA still sampling dissipating deck.
16:51 FL 160
16:52 Stefan Tulich suggests low albedo run on a direct east heading
over the CART site. KA 89 miles from PNC.
16:56 Suggestion by Glen Gordon to do a sounding to FL 290 followed
by spiral descent.
17:01 Ascending through clear air.
17:06 Cleared to FL 270. Clear air.
17:14 KA begins 1000 ft/min descent from FL 270 to FL 060. Temperature
-24 C. Some thin cirrus overhead.
17:19 Sounding aborted in favor of sampling cloud area 60 miles away.
17:20 KA request FL220 heading 320 Degrees for 60 miles. Visual from
video indicates cirrus above and thick deck ahead.
17:25 Estimated horizontal extent of the deck is 8-10 miles.
17:27 Cloud not to thick but a greater horizontal extent than previous
area. Decision to sample upper level of Cirrus layer on a 30 mile
leg then sample upper layer. Request climb to FL 240 for a 30
mile leg at a 045 Deg. heading. Two non-precipitating cloud layers.
17:32 KA granted block from FL 240 to FL 250 but upper level base is
estimated to be at FL 280.
17:40 KA entering cirrus.
17:44 Entering base of wispy cirrus; Data system failure occurs when
switching to downward looking video.
17:48 Video ends. End of mission from a sampling standpoint.
CART-ARM Log (Dr. John Davis, CSU)
On June 23 a special data collections was started shortly after sunrise under virtually clear skies. These consisted of a Langley study using the sun photometer. The near IR interferometer was also started using a 5 min. sampling. The spectra were not monotonically increasing with the rising sun possibly due to non visible cirrus on the distant horizon or possible to non uniform detector response. The MPL was not showing strong cloud hits. Clear sky and cirrus overpass IR spectra were collected. During two cirrus patch overpasses, near IR interferograms were collected each one beginning with the cirrus in the path and ending with clear sky. The German sun photometer was set up during the mid morning. IR interferograms were collected of cirrus overpasses. An evaluation of the performance of the MPL was continued. Sondes were launched at 0817 and 1106 local. Afternoon cloud conditions were not favorable cloud measurements.
Daily Summary: 24 June 1996
(Operations notes/data details: Binder 62496)
The forecast called for mid-level cloudiness to occur during the
night and early morning hours over western Oklahoma and southeastern
Kansas, associated with a cold front and attendant upper level
forcing situated over southern Kansas. Based on MM5 model output,
a decision was made the afternoon of the 23rd to deploy
the DRI Van to southeastern Kansas (near Moline) for a coordinated/collocated
cloud mission with the King Air (1315 UTC takeoff) and DC-8 (1430
UTC takeoff) over Moline. A secondary target in Arkansas (Little
Rock) was selected by the DC-8 crew for cloud-radar operations
if no clouds were observed over Moline. The DRI radiometer was
in position and collecting data early on the morning of 24 June
and sampled early morning mid and low-level cloudiness over Moline
(coincident with the early morning SSM/I overpass at 1317 UTC).
However, by the time the King Air arrived in the vicinity of
Moline (~1345 UTC), the mid-level cloudiness had all but dissipated,
leaving only lower clouds (stratocumulus) and deeper convection
in the suggested area of operations. The King Air headed back
to PNC, landed at 1436 UTC, and called the CSU Ops. Center for
further instructions. Both the King Air and the DC-8 were subsequently
vectored (based on satellite imagery) to a patch of mid-level
cloudiness over westcentral Oklahoma. However, with increasing
solar radiation, the mid-level cloudiness in western OK rapidly
dissipated (in less than 30 minutes!). Subsequently, the DC-8
headed for its secondary target (and cloudiness) over Little Rock,
Arkansas, while the King Air headed into central Oklahoma and
sampled a complex mid-level cloud system over/near Chickashaa,
OK. The mid-level clouds sampled by the King Air were associated
primarily with nearby convection (i.e., detrained from cumulonimbus),
though some of the cloud seemed to exist independent of the convection.
Both the King Air and the DC-8 sampled mid-level clouds independent
of one another but nearly coincident with an SSM/T2 satellite
overpass (1629 UTC; though the sampling area of the King Air was
on the eastern edge of the swath). A vertical sounding from 21,000
to 4000 feet was taken by the King Air approximately 20-40 minutes
after the SSM/T2 overpass. GOES-8 1-minute rapid scan data were
collected from 1400-2000 UTC, and GOES-9 7.5 minute data were
collected from 1300-0000 UTC.
Table 6/24a
COORDINATED/SEPARATE King Air/DC-8/DRI/Satellite Cloud-Missions: Data 6/24/96
| PLATFORM |
| |||||
| King Air | ||||||
| DC-8 | ||||||
| DRI Radiom. | ||||||
| ASOS | ||||||
| SSM/I | ||||||
| SSM/T2 | ||||||
| GOES 15-min. | ||||||
| GOES 7.5-min. | ||||||
| GOES 1-min. |
* The DRI radiometer was in position and sampling during
the 1317 UTC SSM/I overpass.
Early morning cirrus was observed by the instrumentation at the
CART site. All platforms at the CART-ARM site including the DRI
dual-frequency radiometer were nominally operational (Table 6/24b;
CART-ARM Log), soundings and radiation measurements were collected.
The CSU radiotheodolite failed at the CART-site during the second
radiosonde launch. It could not be repaired prior to the end
of the field campaign.
Table 6/24b
CART-ARM Data Collection; 6/24/96
| PLATFORM | |
| CSU Raobs. | |
| CSU Micro Pulse Lidar | |
| CSU Radiation | |
| CSU PRT-6 | |
| PSU Cloud Radar | |
| ARM Raobs. | |
| ARM Radiometer |
062496 Platform/Location Specific Logs:
King Air* Flight Log 24 June 1996
1315 UTC - 1745 UTC
*Note: For reference when watching videos, King Air tail number is
N2UW (referred to by FAA and DC-8 as "Two Uniform Whiskey")
The NASA DC-8 was referred to as "NASA 717".
Chronological Flight Log (All times UTC):
13:15 Flight preparation. Cloudy over the airport (stratocumulus deck).
Some cirrus.
13:20 Wheels up, right turn out of 170 Degrees.
13:22 Cloud base FL 039 top at FL 046.
13:23 Climbing to FL 230. Original plan to fly leg between 235 Deg. at 18
mile radial and 050 Degree and 60 mile radial off the Pioneer VOR, no
clouds over CART-ARM though.
13:24 Ken suggests moving the racetrack northeast over Moline, Kansas where
the DRI van is located.
13:26 Data system problem with INS. 80 m/s downdraft noted.
13:28 Near CART site. VOR 235 Deg. at 18.5 mile radial from Pioneer VOR.
13:29 KA course reversal, heading 052 Deg. FL 150. SSM/I overpass.
13:30 KA position 36 35.4 N 97 32.3 W. Video indicates cumulus, cirrus and
some mid-level cloud present. Turrets to the south noted. No flight
level winds will be available for this mission due to equipment
failure.
13:35 KA FL 150. Extensive deck of stratocumulus, altocumulus at an estimated
FL 200.
13:36 No video, but audio present.
|
13:40 Video returns. More clouds noted as the KA heads to the northeast.
13:41 Large CB located to the E-SE.
13:41 No Video.
|
13:47 Video back.
13:55 Plan is to head to the Bartlesville VOR. Some mid-level clouds present
but thin.
14:00 KA flight leg will be from Bartlesville VOR along a 250 Degree radial
for 70 miles at FL 270.
14:06 Visually, mid-level clouds have appearance of old CB anvil. KA
apparently flying the back edge of an old convective line.
14:09 KA will go to 180 Deg. radial 10 miles from the Bartlesville VOR and
then take a heading of 240 Deg. for 70 miles.
14:13 KA radar indicates convective cell 22 miles ahead.
14:14 KA FL 270. Ken Eis suggests flying one leg and then flying dissipating
convection. Cloud situation deteriorating.
14:22 Decision to head back to PNC to call CSU Ops. center to find out
where to go.
14:36 KA lands at PNC.
|
|
15:28 KA departs PNC on 198 Degree radial.
15:40 KA contact with NASA 717. NASA 717 confused about planned location
of mission because there are no clouds. KA located near Chickashaa
Oklahoma. Sky condition clear at KA FL and above.
15:45 Convection ahead of KA flight track. FL 200.
15:48 NASA 717 contacts KA; decision made by scientist on DC-8 to head for
Little Rock, Arkansas for sampling at a 223 Degree radial and 57 miles
from Little Rock VOR.
15:50 KA preparing to enter thick altocumulus. KA declines NASA 717
invitation to head to Little Rock.
15:51 KA enters Ac deck at FL 200. Estimated 2000 ft. thick.
15:52 Glen Gordon indicates glaciated conditions at a temperature of
-10 C. No water indicated and lots of capped columns present.
15:53 KA requests heading of 070 Deg.
15:56 KA directed by ATC to FL 230.
16:00 KA descending into deck of extensive Ac with tops at FL 170. Presence
of turrets noted in the Ac deck.
16:02 Ac organized as billows. Good deck of clouds.
16:03 KA in cloud-top FL 200. 100/L ice concentrations noted, lots of thin
plates (note that this is the right pristine growth regime for this
temperature).
16:04 KA out of cloud. Small cloud-elements noted.
16:05 Ken Eis suggests descending to FL 180.
16:06 KA heading 200 Deg., FL block 170-190. Visually, the Ac deck surrounds
convective buildups.
16:07 Visually, cloud layers are complex and composed of convection and Ac
decks.
16:08 Ken Eis notes an Ac deck precipitating ice crystals.
16:10 KA heading 150 Deg.
16:11 KA in ice (5/L) but there is no visible cloud.
16:11 KA descends to FL 180 (CB directly ahead).
16:12 Clouds visually ragged.
16:13 KA in cloud. No water present. 40/L ice initially encountered then
170/L ice crystal concentration at temperature -7 C (**note- this a
large ice concentration at such a warm temperature- secondary ice
crystal production and ice-enhancement likely*).
16:14 KA out of cloud.
16:15 Thunderstorm to the right of KA heading.
16:16 KA ascending to FL185. KA moves into a detrained 2000 ft. thick
cloud. Ken Eis remarks that he is not sure this cloud will show
up on DMSP, or how it will show up on DMSP given the presence of
nearby convection.
16:18 KA in cloud. LWC's noted on cloud edge.
16:19 KA FL 185. In cloud. Mixed phase conditions noted with some graupel
present.
16:20 KA "skimming" the top of the cloud.
16:20 KA breaks out of cloud.
16:21 KA moving to FL 190 to do a radiation run over the cloud-top.
16:22 KA back in cloud. Large 17 micron drops noted, some icing on
the windshield. In and out of cloud top.
16:23 KA 20 miles from nearest convective cell.
16:23 KA in cloud. Ice crystals noted.
16:25 KA heading 240 Deg., moving to FL 200.
16:26 Ken Eis notes CB is 20 km away from mid-level clouds. Hypothesizes
that mid-level clouds just sampled are not associated with CB's.
KA located over the Ac deck with some cloud-elements at FL220.
Cloud-top radiation mission being done.
16:29 SSM/T2 overpass.
16:30 Cloud-tops at -5 C.
16:31 KA maintains FL block 180 - 190.
16:34 Visually, cloud decks appear to surround embedded convection.
16:35 Thunderstorm 28 miles ahead of KA.
16:36 KA in cloud FL 182.
16:38 KA out of cloud.
16:39 KA moving to FL230.
16:42 KA FL 210, visually on the back side of CB anvils.
16:44 Ac clouds beginning to dissipate.
16:48 KA initiates sounding through cloud decks. Spiral descent from FL
210 to FL 031.
16:49 KA spiraling through cloud deck, 700 ft./minute.
16:50 KA Position: 35 46.0 N 96 52.0 W. Lightning observed in CB's.
16:52 KA out of cloud and under Ac.
17:07 Turbulence noted at FL 072 (top of boundary layer).
17:11 KA FL 040. Sounding/spiral descent completed.
17:12 KA departs for CART-site fly-over.
17:28 KA over CART-ARM at FL 004.
17:45 KA lands in PNC.
CART-ARM Log (Dr. John Davis, CSU)
On June 24 data collection began at 0700 with under dissipating cirrus. Interferograms collected early mostly for comparison with PRT6. PRT6 was deployed outside trailer on tripod. Zenith angle scans were started between IR interferometer and PRT6. MPL was not started because of previous days problems. Near IR interferometer was not started due to mainly scattered Cu cloud conditions. By mid morning it was found that the detector was not responding in the MPL. Early sonde at 0800 went well but on next launch during T2 satellite overpass the radio theodolite system went down. Further investigation revealed the problem might be due to a blown power supply. AIR Inc. of Boulder CO was contacted about the problem. DRI was deployed to Molene, KS to sit under aircraft overpass. We were required to leave site at about 1700 local because of severe weather in the area.
Daily Summary: 25 June 1996
(Operations notes/data details: Binder 62596)
The orginal plan for the 25th called for a standown
unless mid-level cloud occurred in the immediate vicinity of CART-ARM.
The NASA DC-8 flew an independent mission (non-CLEX associated)
near the Gulf of Mexico. The forecast called for potentially "good"
conditions over the CART-site due to the presence of widespread
convection and mid-level moisture during the evening hours of
the 24th. During the morning hours, satellite imagery
indicated a persistent growing region of mid-level cloudiness
in southwestern Kansas that was not associated with cloud detrained
from deep convection (i.e., the associated lifting mechanism occurred
over a larger scale). The King Air took off from PNC at 1556
UTC and headed for this growing patch (approximately 200x200 km)
of mid-level cloudiness. A very successful cloud microphysics
mission ensued, coincident with overpasses of both the SSM/T2
(1616 UTC) and the SSM/I (1710 UTC).
Table 6/25a
COORDINATED Single aircraft/Satellite Cloud-Mission: Data 6/24/96
| PLATFORM |
| |||||
| King Air | ||||||
| DC-8 | ||||||
| ASOS | ||||||
| SSM/I | ||||||
| SSM/T2 | ||||||
| GOES 15-min. | ||||||
| GOES 7.5-min. | ||||||
| GOES 1-min. |
Low clouds and cirrus were observed by the instrumentation at
the CART site. All platforms at the CART-ARM site except the
radiotheodolite were nominally operational (Table 6/25b; CART-ARM
Log), soundings and radiation measurements were collected.
Table 6/25b
CART-ARM Data Collection; 6/24/96
| PLATFORM | |
| CSU Micro Pulse Lidar | |
| CSU Radiation | |
| CSU PRT-6 | |
| DRI Radiometer | |
| PSU Cloud Radar | |
| ARM Raobs. | |
| ARM Radiometer |
062596 Platform/Location Specific Logs:
King Air* Flight Log 25 June 1996
1556 UTC - 1812 UTC
*Note: For reference when watching videos, King Air tail number is
N2UW (referred to by FAA and DC-8 as "Two Uniform Whiskey")
The NASA DC-8 was referred to as "NASA 717".
Chronological Flight Log (All times UTC):
15:56 Flight preparation.
16:02 Take off, scattered shallow Cu (bases FL040) and hazy conditions noted.
16:07 KA heading 352 Deg.
16:13 KA FL 150 heading to Newton, Kansas.
16:16 Mid-level clouds sighted visually > 50 miles northeast.
16:16 SSM/T2 overpass.
16:20 KA over ICT
16:23 KA requests heading 050 Deg.
16:26 KA FL 150 heading 050 Deg. Request for FL block 160-170, heading
060 Deg. for 30-40 miles.
16:27 KA approaching Ac clouds.
16:29 Clouds above plane. KA FL 160-170. Single layer above Cu.
16:31 KA in clouds. Temperature -7 C, 5/L ice crystal concentrations with
diameters of 1 mm.
16:33 KA on 130 Deg. heading FL170.
16:34 Some 3 mm diameter ice noted at cloud base. Base not well defined,
ice crystals may be falling out of deck above. Some LWC's noted in
cloud.
16:37 KA FL185. Mixed phase conditions encountered with small ice and
more water.
16:40 KA FL190 all water cloud, temperature -12 C. Thin plates seen at
top of the cloud; 200 /cm^3 liquid water also. LWC 0.2 g/m^3.
16:46 KA at top of the cloud.
16:48 KA FL 190; heading 040 Deg. Icing on aircraft, lots of LWC.
16:49 Instruments icing up.
16:51 Some high cirrus noted.
16:52 Going back into cloud; KA located near Emporia, Kansas. Sides
of the cloud are dark gray.
16:54 KA back in cloud FL190. LWC 0.3 g/m^3 (Cu situated below Ac)
16:58 KA out of cloud (clear patch).
17:01 KA course reversal; Cu below Ac on the decrease.
17:05 KA in-cloud.
17:06 Comment made "really good, most water yet".
17:07 Comment "Lots of liquid". Icing noted on aircraft.
17:09 KA out of cloud
17:10 SSM/I overpass. KA turns around and descends to sample a lower
layer of AC near FL170. Cu below that deck. (2 layers of Ac and
one of Cu).
17:14 KA requests heading 010 Deg. for 20 miles and a FL block of 170-180.
17:16 KA between cloud layers that appear to be approximately 500 ft apart.
17:17 Visually, lower Ac deck appears to be growing in to deck above.
17:18 KA near base of Ac cloud deck. Request for FL 160-170.
17:21 KA FL 170; request FL 260; in Cu deck.
17:23 ATC reports trouble with ground radar; KA directed south and to FL 250.
17:30 KA FL 198. Thunderstorm west of the airplane.
17:32 KA heading 100 Deg.
17:33 Comment Glen Gordon "deck from below has convected into upper deck".
KA leaving deck at FL220 and climbing. Suggestion that lower
deck might have grown faster in clear area.
17:35 KA out of mid-level cloud.
17:37 KA heading 280 Deg.; icing on KA reducing airspeed- stall warning.
17:40 KA heading 240 Deg. Uncertainty about how high to ascend to begin
sounding.
17:42 KA spiral descent, 1000 ft/min to FL 040 from FL220 (?) initiated.
17:44 Visually, clouds are dissipating.
17:47 KA in cloud, FL 197. FSSP is icing up. Two layers noted with diffuse
base of 475 mb. Cu deck underneath.
17:53 Plan is to spiral through Cu over Osage City, Kansas. Sounding
noted to be more stable than that of PNC.
17:59 Deck above aircraft dissipating rapidly. KA 125 miles NE of PNC.
18:03 KA reaches top of PBL. Shallow, broken Cu layer. Very dry above
the PBL.
18:04 Into Cu, good measurements through a few clouds with droplet
concentrations of 1000/cm^3.
18:08 KA FL 045, base of Cu. Plane will ascend to FL160 and return to
PNC.
18:09 KA request brief descent to FL030 to sample underneath base of Cu.
18:12 KA ascends to FL160 and then returns PNC.
Comment "pretty good data".
CART-ARM Log (Dr. John Davis, CSU)
On June 25 we arrived at the site under scattered cloud conditions.
This was originally scheduled as a down day for the aircraft,
but then it was decided to try to do something with the King Air.
Originally went to site to set up pyrheliometer for ancillary
data for an albedo run but then the King Air was not flown over
the site. Sky conditions changed throughout the late morning hours.
Low cloud coverage increased and cirrus overhead increased.
Would have been an excellent cirrus day if low clouds were not
present. Halo persisted for over an hour. Data from met and
surface radiation station were collected and PRT6 was deployed
for a short while. Some floppies were again found to be virus
infected. No interferograms collected. Pryheliometer was deployed
for a short period until it was learned from email that King Air
was not flying over site.
Daily Summary: 26 June 1996
(Operations notes/data details: Binder 62696)
The original intent of the mission
this day was for the King Air and the DC-8 to co-sample extensive,
long lived mid-level cloudiness in the vicinity of Paris (PRX)
Texas. The mission was suggested based on persistent observations
of the CSU Ops. Center crew of long lived cloudiness over the
southern portion of the U.S. associated with moisture intruding
from the Gulf of Mexico all the way into northern Texas, Louisiana,
and southern Arkansas. To obtain collocated, coincident observations
from the ground, the DRI van was also deployed to PRX in hopes
of collecting data during aircraft and satellite overpasses (SSM/I
1242 UTC; SSM/T2 1604 UTC). The King Air departed PNC early in
the morning (1146 UTC) for the ferry flight to PRX. Due to air
traffic congestion over PRX, and a later takeoff time for the
DC-8 (10:00 am CDT; from Dallas, Texas), the joint mission between
the DC-8 and King Air could not take place. However, the King
Air did sample extensive mid-level cloudiness during the first
SSM/I overpass (1242 UTC) enroute to PRX at the same time radiometer
data were collected by the DRI van on the ground. The DC-8 and
the DRI van sampled cloud in the vicinity of each other at a later
time coincident with the SSM/T2 overpass. Mid-level clouds in
the vicinity of PRX during the early morning hours rapidly dissipated,
only to be replaced by thunderstorms.
Table 6/26a
COORDINATED/SEPARATE King Air/DC-8/Satellite Cloud-Mission: Data 6/26/96
| PLATFORM |
| |||||
| King Air | ||||||
| DC-8 | ||||||
| DRI Radiom. | ||||||
| ASOS | ||||||
| SSM/I | ||||||
| SSM/T2 | ||||||
| GOES 15-min. | ||||||
| GOES 7.5-min. | ||||||
| GOES 1-min. |
Cirrus was observed by the instrumentation at the CART site.
All platforms at the CART-ARM site except the radiotheodolite
were nominally operational (Table 6/26b; CART-ARM Log), soundings
and radiation measurements were collected.
Table 6/26b
CART-ARM Data Collection; 6/26/96
| PLATFORM | |
| CSU Micro Pulse Lidar | |
| CSU Radiation | |
| CSU PRT-6 | |
| PSU Cloud Radar | |
| ARM Raobs. | |
| ARM Radiometer |
062696 Platform/Location Specific Logs:
King Air* Flight Log 26 June 1996
1146 UTC - 1711 UTC
*Note: For reference when watching videos, King Air tail number is
N2UW (referred to by FAA and DC-8 as "Two Uniform Whiskey")
The NASA DC-8 was referred to as "NASA 717".
Chronological Flight Log (All times UTC):
(Tape #1 KA ferry/sampling PNC - PRX)
11:46 KA takeoff from PNC cleared to FL 050 and bound for FL 180 at
a heading of 150 Deg. Visually, broken low level clouds, cirrus,
and patchy mid-level clouds to the south.
11:48 KA 5 miles south of PNC, cleared to FL 070 and then to FL190.
12:32 Layered clouds present, Ken Eis suggests descent into cloud
below KA (request FL 120-130); KA presently FL 160. Turn and
descent executed. Freezing level at approximately FL140.
12:36 KA cleared for FL120-130 block. Lots of mid-level cloudiness.
12:39 KA request change in FL block to 110-120.
12:40 KA in-cloud FL 115. Large water drops picked up by PMS (diameters
17-19 microns). Glen Gordon notes that these drops are bigger than
the ones found in clouds aloft. LWC 0.3 g/m^3 with low droplet
concentrations.
12:42 SSM/I Overpass
12:42 Precipitation coming out of cloud bases (visually, clouds almost
appear cumuliform; lots of layers but not "expansive"). Sounding
similar to PNC; lots of low level cloudiness.
12:44 Gordon notes that above 0 C the drop diameter falls off when the
ice is present.
12:45 KA descends for FL block 100-110.
12:46 KA in cloud, but visually the cloud appears to be cumuliform. Glen
Gordon notes presence of "large" drops in the thick cloud with
size falling off at the edge of the cloud.
12:47 KA in and out of tops and bases of clouds.
12:48 Virga out of cloud base. FTW Center notified that ops. will be
conducted in the vicinity of PRX with NASA 717 later in the morning.
12:50 KA ascends to FL 230 enroute to PRX.
12:52 KA FL 150-160 going through dissipating Ac deck. Layer is <1000 ft.
thick. Ken Eis estimates layers at FL 030, FL 050, FL 100, FL 160,
and two more decks above FL 160- height uncertain.
12:54 KA in cloud.
12:55 KA 32 miles from PRX on a heading of 120 Deg., ascending to FL230.
ATC advises King Air that PRX is a busy area due to "arrival rush".
12:57 Pilot/Eis note that PRX might be a bad choice for ops.
area due to air traffic, PRX is an "arrival gate".
13:03 "lots of clouds" noted.
13:06 KA descends to maintain FL 125. Visually, convective towers present
all quads. Mid-level cloud at FL105, some Ac castellanus present.
13:16 KA initiates sounding during spiral descent into PRX.
13:22 KA descends through shallow Cu, tops approximately FL 070.
13:42 KA lands and lays over at PRX, Texas for approximately
1.5 hours.
Note* DC-8 takeoff from DFW scheduled for 15:00 UTC
(Tape #2; PRX, Texas; DC-8, return to PNC)
15:10 Flight preparation, DFW Center clears KA cleared for FL040.
15:18 Take off.
15:20 KA cleared to FL 070. KA requests FL 290.
15:21 KA cleared to FL 110 and the PRX VOR. KA ordered to maintain FL 110
then ascend to FL 290.
15:23 KA ascending to FL 150.
15:24 Ken Eis attempts to contact NASA DC-8 (no answer).
15:25 KA ascends to FL 190. Mid-level cloudiness now noticeably absent.
Also no cirrus. Still many low level clouds, but convective
mixing does not appear to explain the dissipation of mid and
and upper level cloud decks.
15:29 NASA 717 makes initial contact with KA. NASA 717 will fly a line
off the TXK VOR on 287 Deg. radial at 37 miles, to 267 Deg. radial
at 103 miles. The leg will be 70 miles long.
15:34 KA FL 180, climbing to FL 230.
15:41 KA FL 230.
15:42 NASA 717 contact, they are at FL 352. KA FL 230 ascending to FL 280
-290.
15:44 KA crew notes busy airspace and too many radio operating at one time.
Some cirrus noted ahead.
15:46 NASA 717 FL 380. Located 8 miles off the southwest point (256 Deg/76
mile point).
15:48 KA requests FL 290 along same track as DC-8.
15:53 KA heading east and climbing from FL230 to FL270.
15:54 KA on radial, contacts NASA 717 now heading east.
15:55 Ken Eis suggests leaving the area due to lack of suitable clouds
and air traffic problems. Plan to turn and head west at FL250 and
then turn north.
15:58 KA contacts NASA 717. KA FL 260.
16:02 KA and NASA 717 not aligned exactly. NASA 717 is south of KA location.
16:03 Few cirrus
16:04 SSM/T2 Overpass.
16:05 Cloud deck at FL 150 but clear from FL150 - FL350. KA positioned at
the 267/103 TXK radial.
16:06 KA stall during ascent.
16:07 KA heading 230 Deg.
16:10 KA heading 255 Deg. Will do 14 miles on leg and then will leave the
area.
16:12 KA heading 272 Deg. KA requests FL 330; FL 290 granted.
16:12 NASA 717 approximately 10 miles south of PRX.
16:37 KA heading toward Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mid-level clouds dissipated/ing.
16:41 KA 103 miles from PNC; ATC gives clearance direct to PNC FL 100.
16:48 KA penetrates a few Cu 63 miles from PNC.
16:53 KA penetrates more Cu below FL 100.
17:11 KA lands in PNC.
** Note on traffic congestion issue - Although the Paris TX
location was not over a major airport it was in the NE descent
corridor into Dallas. As a result, aircraft were dropping from
30,000 into the approach pattern and the King Air was not allowed
below 23,000 (where the clouds were). There were aircraft zooming
by above and below. Additionally the radio space was crowded.
For future field work we need to address air-traffic patterns,
not just proximity to large airports.
CART-ARM Log (Dr. John Davis, CSU)
On June 26 we arrived at the site at 0600 local with cirrus above and in anticipation of King Air overflight, but cloud conditions were not optimum at CART. PRT6 was deployed and some interferograms collected however it was discovered later that the temperature data for the mornings interferometer data was bad. Solar tracking instruments were set out. An at the site pyrgeometer calibration turned out well. High clouds were quite varied from what looked like alto cu to wave like cirrus. Early in the morning low level clouds began to advect in from the south east. The PRT6 was deployed looking into the MPL mirror and the sampling rate decreased to 1/5 sec. Data archival began in earnest. The elevation and azimuth of the GOES 8 satellite were calculated and the gimbal was pointed in the direction of the GOES 8 in hopes of using the cooled near IR detector to observe cirrus overcast at future opportunities.
Daily Summary: 27 June 1996
(Operations notes/data details: Binder 62796)
The 27th
was declared a down day for the King Air crew, and the NASA DC-8
ferried back to Ames Research Center in California. Hence, no
aircraft operations were completed for CLEX on the 27th.
The forecast issued the night of the 26th suggested
the possibility of mid-level cloudiness over the CART site the
morning of the 27th. Indeed, several layers of mid-level
cloud were observed over the CART site in the early morning hours,
but dissipated by 1330 UTC. Observations were confined to ground
instrumentation at the CART site and satellite observations (though
only one DMSP overpass occurred over the CART site- SSM/I at 1230
UTC).
Table 6/27a
CART-Site Satellite Cloud Data 6/27/96 (no aircraft)
| PLATFORM |
| |||||
| King Air | ||||||
| DC-8 | ||||||
| ASOS | ||||||
| SSM/I | ||||||
| SSM/T2 | ||||||
| GOES 15-min. | ||||||
| GOES 7.5-min. | ||||||
| GOES 1-min. |
Mid-level cloudiness was observed by the instrumentation at the
CART site. All platforms at the CART-ARM site except the radiotheodolite
and micro pulse lidar were nominally operational (Table 6/27b;
CART-ARM Log), soundings and radiation measurements were collected.
The DRI radiometer computer hardware failed at 1236 UTC forcing
the cessation of DRI radiometer observations for the rest of the
field phase.
Table 6/27b
CART-ARM Data Collection; 6/27/96
| PLATFORM | |
| CSU Micro Pulse Lidar | |
| CSU Radiation | |
| CSU PRT-6 | |
| DRI Radiometer | |
| PSU Cloud Radar | |
| ARM Raobs. | |
| ARM Radiometer |
* DRI Radiometer computer hardware failure 12:36 UTC.
062796 Platform/Location Specific Logs:
CART-ARM Log (Dr. John Davis, CSU)
The early morning (0600 local) conditions on June 27 were best yet for complex layered clouds at CART. There may have been as many as 4 layers of clouds including a well defined altostratus structure. By 0830, most lower layers had dissipated. Some mid level cloudiness persisted for a short time. A few interferograms were taken mainly to calibrate the PRT6 in its new through the mirror configuration. The near IR interferometer was tested with the InSb detector. The system appears capable of monitoring the scattering from a Rayleigh sky. Low boundary layer Cu persisted throughout the morning. No widespread higher clouds were seen after mid morning.
Daily Summary: 28 June 1996
(Operations notes/data details: Binder 62896)
The forecast called for a fair chance of mid-level clouds
over the CART site, however none were observed in the vicinity.
Hence the King Air executed clear-sky albedo runs over
the CART-ARM. The DRI van departed for Reno, Nevada.
CART-ARM Data Collection; 6/28/96
| PLATFORM | |
| CSU Radiation | |
| CSU PRT-6 | |
| PSU Cloud Radar | |
| ARM Raobs. | |
| ARM Radiometer |
062896 Platform/Location Specific Logs:
CART-ARM Log (Dr. John Davis, CSU)
June 28 was a good day for clear sky observations, at least early in the morning. By mid morning the typical low level cu began to move in. Another Langley (aerosol optical depth) data set was collected. with the photometer. The near IR interferometer was deployed with the InSb detector installed, pointed at the position of GOES8. Spectral reflectance from the sides of the fair weather Cu was easily detected by the system which might provide the beginnings of a 3 to 5 micron clear to cloudy sky spectral contrast study. The King Air was deployed on an albedo/radiation run and passed over the site at 1538 UTC. The PRT6 continued to function looking through the side port and a few interferograms were taken with the IR interferometer to try and provide some more calibration points. No cirrus was detected. The King Air did another overflight and passed over the site at about 1815 UTC but flying at what appeared to be about 1000 ft.
Daily Summary: 29 June 1996
(Operations notes/data details: Binder 62996)
The 29th
of June marked the end of the intensive observation period of
CLEX-1. The King Air departed PNC in the morning (1230 UTC) for
Laramie, Wyoming. CSU equipment at the CART-ARM site was dismantled
and packed up for shipping back to Fort Collins. An extensive
band of mid-level cloudiness extended through southern Colorado
and western Kansas. Some of the clouds were sampled by the King
Air coincident with the 1402 UTC SSM/I overpass while the King
Air was enroute to Laramie. ** Note: The DC-8 cloud-radar
sampled marine stratocumulus along the coast of California on
both July 1 and 2. These data collections may present further
opportunity for analysis associated with the CLEX-1 goals.
Table 6/29a
King Air-Satellite Cloud-Mission (return to Laramie): Data 6/29/96
| PLATFORM |
| ||||
| King Air | |||||
| ASOS | |||||
| SSM/I | |||||
| SSM/T2 | |||||
| GOES 15-min. |
Table 6/29b
CART-ARM Data Collection; 6/29/96 (suspended at 12:00 PM CDT)
| PLATFORM | |
| CSU Radiation | |
| CSU PRT-6 | |
| PSU Cloud Radar | |
| ARM Raobs. | |
| ARM Radiometer |
062996 Platform/Location Specific Log:
CART-ARM Log (Dr. John Davis, CSU)
June 29 was the last day for any data collection. The morning
sky was again extremely clear. Virtually no clouds were observed
all morning. Data from systems were downloaded and systems were
brought out of service. Significant progress on packing the equipment
was accomplished by 1200 CDT. Temperature at the site was recorded
as 104 F by ARM-CART at 1230 PM.