NCAR Research Aviation Facility

NCARNCARResearch Aviation FacilityResearch Aviation Facility

CSU visit 11-April-2007Dave Rogers - http://www.eol.ucar.edu/~dcrogers/index.html

Airborne ResearchAirborne Research

OutlineOutline• U.S. Federal airborne science fleetU.S. Federal airborne science fleet• NSF C-130 & HIAPERNSF C-130 & HIAPER• Anatomy of RAFAnatomy of RAF• PACDEXPACDEX• Tour C-130 & G-VTour C-130 & G-V

Corporation of North American universitiesCorporation of North American universitiesmission = advance national interests & capabilities in mission = advance national interests & capabilities in

atmospheric & related sciences.atmospheric & related sciences.UCAR

NCARNSF-funded research & development centerNSF-funded research & development center

- missions in research, facilities, education, tech transfer- missions in research, facilities, education, tech transfer

EOL Provides observing system tools for world-wide researchProvides observing system tools for world-wide research

UCAR Mesa LabBoulder CO

RAF Airborne research

Federal Airborne Science FleetFederal Airborne Science Fleet

NOAANOAAP-3P-3

NASANASAER-2ER-2

NASANASADC-8DC-8

USNUSNP-3P-3

UNDUND

Federal Airborne Science FleetFederal Airborne Science Fleet

NASANASAWB-57WB-57

NASANASATwin OtterTwin Otter

NASANASAProteusProteus

DOEDOEG-1G-1

Univ. Wyoming King-Univ. Wyoming King-AirAir

University University AircraftAircraft

UND CitationUND Citation

S. Dakota T-S. Dakota T-2828

EOL Systems: PartnershipsEOL Systems: Partnerships

NCAR Electra - retired

NRL P-3 now carries NCAR Doppler radar

C130 Research AircraftC130 Research Aircraft

• Atmospheric Boundary Layer Atmospheric Boundary Layer • OceanographyOceanography• Air/Sea InteractionAir/Sea Interaction• Cloud PhysicsCloud Physics• Tropospheric Profiling Tropospheric Profiling • Radiometric Measurements Radiometric Measurements • Atmospheric ChemistryAtmospheric Chemistry

• Aerosol MeasurementsAerosol Measurements

• 10 Hours Endurance10 Hours Endurance• Range 3100 nmRange 3100 nm• Max Operating Altitude 26,000 ftMax Operating Altitude 26,000 ft• 23,000 lb (13,000 with max fuel)23,000 lb (13,000 with max fuel)• Electrical Power Electrical Power

– 90kVA @ 115 Vac 400 Hz; 90kVA @ 115 Vac 400 Hz; – 21kVA @ 115Vac 60 Hz;21kVA @ 115Vac 60 Hz;– 400A @ 28Vdc400A @ 28Vdc

C-130C-130• basic instrumentsbasic instruments• adjustable configurations adjustable configurations • investigator instrumentsinvestigator instruments

Gulfstream-VGulfstream-VModifications 2003 – 2005+Modifications 2003 – 2005+

missions: ProgSci 2005, T-REX 2006, PACDEX 2007missions: ProgSci 2005, T-REX 2006, PACDEX 2007

HIAPERHIAPERHigh-performance Instrumented Airborne Platform for Environmental ResearchHigh-performance Instrumented Airborne Platform for Environmental Research

HIAPER - performanceHIAPER - performance

EnduranceEndurance 10 h10 hRangeRange 6,000 nm6,000 nmAir speedsAir speeds 120 – 230 m/s120 – 230 m/sAltitude MaxAltitude Max51,000 ft51,000 ftPayload Payload 3,400 lb3,400 lbCrewCrew 2 pilots + 8 sci2 pilots + 8 sciElectrical Power Electrical Power

– 20kVA @ 115/208 vac 400 Hz; 20kVA @ 115/208 vac 400 Hz; – 21kVA @ 115 vac 60 Hz;21kVA @ 115 vac 60 Hz;– 5 kW @ 28 vdc5 kW @ 28 vdc

RAF Strength: Great StaffRAF Strength: Great Staff

Field Project SupportField Project Support

RAF staff of 35 people: RAF staff of 35 people: • project management scientistsproject management scientists• software engineerssoftware engineers• electrical & instrumentation engineerselectrical & instrumentation engineers• aeronautical engineeraeronautical engineer• instrument techniciansinstrument technicians• aircraft mechanicsaircraft mechanics• pilots & flight engineerspilots & flight engineers• scientistsscientists• administrationadministration

Data Systems, Software, Processing, and Data Systems, Software, Processing, and ArchivalArchival

tools for data display and analysis tools for data display and analysis free! - free! - http://www.eol.ucar.edu/raf/Software/http://www.eol.ucar.edu/raf/Software/

RAF Field ProjectsRAF Field Projects

Earlier projects:Earlier projects:

2000 TOPSE – Greenland to Manitoba2000 TOPSE – Greenland to Manitoba

1999 MAPS – Italy-Austria-Switzerland1999 MAPS – Italy-Austria-Switzerland

1999 INDOEX - Indian Ocean1999 INDOEX - Indian Ocean

1998 SHEBA - Alaska1998 SHEBA - Alaska

PACDEX - tracking Asian dust plumePACDEX - tracking Asian dust plume

JAPAN

RussianAirspace

Hawaii

1 hr

PACDEX Japan-Japan Flight

Possible plume

Possible plume

= step descent/ascent profiles deviating to sample clouds (See next figures)

Get above plumeDuring ferry to Sampling region

Plume track determined by forecast (only one plume)

PACDEX - PACDEX - wing store instrumentswing store instruments

• UHSASUHSAS = = aerosol size distr 70 -1000 nmaerosol size distr 70 -1000 nm

• CDPCDP = cloud droplet probe, 2 - 60 µm = cloud droplet probe, 2 - 60 µm

• 2DC2DC = cloud particle size distr & images ~100-1600 µm = cloud particle size distr & images ~100-1600 µm

• SID-2HSID-2H = cloud particle size distr & phase, 2 - 60 µm = cloud particle size distr & phase, 2 - 60 µm

• RICERICE = supercooled cloud water = supercooled cloud water

• KingKing = liquid water condensate (g m = liquid water condensate (g m-3-3))

• video video = = forward lookingforward looking

PACDEX – PACDEX – cabincabin2 – pilots2 – pilots

1 – mechanic1 – mechanic7 - science crew7 - science crew

9 - instrument racks9 - instrument racks

PACDEX - PACDEX - cabin instrumentscabin instruments

• state parameters (T, P, humidity) + windsstate parameters (T, P, humidity) + winds• water vaporwater vapor• ozoneozone• CO CO = carbon monoxide= carbon monoxide• HARP = HARP = radiation (actinic flux + spectral irradiance ~0.4 - 2 µm)radiation (actinic flux + spectral irradiance ~0.4 - 2 µm)• CVI = CVI = cloud condensate (> 5 µm, cloud particle residuals)cloud condensate (> 5 µm, cloud particle residuals)• CFDC (CSU) = CFDC (CSU) = ice nucleating aerosol particlesice nucleating aerosol particles• CCN = cloud condensation nuclei (~0.2 – 1% ss)CCN = cloud condensation nuclei (~0.2 – 1% ss)• SP-2 = soot particles (>100 nm size & conc)SP-2 = soot particles (>100 nm size & conc)• streakers + impactor = streakers + impactor = aerosol particle collectors for SEM analysisaerosol particle collectors for SEM analysis• RDMA = aerosol size distribution (10 – 150 nm)RDMA = aerosol size distribution (10 – 150 nm)• CN = total particle conc.CN = total particle conc.• GNI = giant nuclei impactor ( > 2 µm)GNI = giant nuclei impactor ( > 2 µm)• satcom = satellite telephone data communicationssatcom = satellite telephone data communications• real-time display stations + Internet Relay chatreal-time display stations + Internet Relay chat

more about PACDEX - http://www.eol.ucar.edu/projects/pacdex/

dynamic heating of air samplesdynamic heating of air samples

• predictable from thermodynamicspredictable from thermodynamics• loss of volatile components from particlesloss of volatile components from particles

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tour C-130 & HIAPERtour C-130 & HIAPER

Photos of G-V’s green parts are not allowed.Photos of G-V’s green parts are not allowed.

Otherwise, take all the pictures you want.Otherwise, take all the pictures you want.

More information about RAFMore information about RAFhttp://raf.atd.ucar.edu/http://raf.atd.ucar.edu/