Project #2002-112 IDEAS Phase 2

Instrument Development and Education in Airborne Science

J. Stith, et al.

NSF/NCAR C-130Q Hercules (N130AR)

Jeff Stith's RF05 Summary

(10/24/2002 -- 20:51:35-23:22:53 UTC)

We had a short flight to check out the cloud instruments today. We began by sampling a relatively isolated cloud that provided an echo on the CHILL radar. It was located near the GIL 330/52 and sampling began about 21:30 with a pass at cloud top at 17 k and continued downward to 14 k, but we were not able to get below the cloud base due to minimum IFR altitude requirements. Plate and dendrite crystals were found in abundance with little supercooled liquid water. The first images on the new HVPS were seen today.

We then found an isolated cu congestus cloud, just north of I-80, that was in a growing stage, but were unable to get clearance to get below its base, again due to the minimum IFR altitude requirements. We did a few passes through this cloud and another one, before we decided that we couldn't sample enough of the cloud to completely characterize them. We had several unusual problems with the PMS instruments today.

Jeff Stith

Last update: Fri Oct 25 12:13:43 MDT 2002