Project # 2005-135 RICO Rain In Cumulus over the Ocean Principal Investigator(s):  Bob Rauber, Harry Ochs, et al. NSF/NCAR C-130Q Hercules (N130AR)

Documentation Summary

This site has the final documentation for the airborne measurements obtained from the NSF/NCAR Research Aviation Facility (RAF) C-130Q Hercules aircraft (Tail Number N130AR) during the "Rain In Cumulus over the Ocean" project which took place from 7 December 2004 to 24 January 2005.

Both the Low-Rate (LRT, 1 sample per second) and High-Rate (HRT, 25 sps, mixed) production data sets are available on-line at the URLs:

• LRT    http://www.eol.ucar.edu/raf/Catalog/taplog.lrt.135.html
• HRT    http://www.eol.ucar.edu/raf/Catalog/taplog.hrt.135.html

Both the raw and production output data have been archived to the NCAR/SCD Mass Store System (MSS) which has proven to be extremely reliable. However, we strongly urge data recipients to make their own archival copies to protect against damage or loss.

Software for viewing the Low-Rate data is available from the RAF. Please consult the RAF Software Product Guide for more information on available RAF data-perusal programs.

As you proceed with analysis of your data, you may have questions, encounter problems, or uncover discrepancies or other aspects of the data set that may be of interest to the RAF and to other users. We ask that you bring these issues to the attention of the Project Manager or the RAF Manager.

Allen Schanot, (303)497-1063 RICO Project Manager
Pavel Romashkin, (303)497-1027 RICO Project Manager
Jeffrey L. Stith Ph.D, (303)497-1032, Research Aviation Facility Manager
FAX phone number:  (303)497-1092
Mail address:

National Center for Atmospheric Research
EOL/Research Aviation Facility
P. O. Box 3000
Boulder, CO 80307-3000
U. S. A.

We are pleased to serve as major providers of information to the RICO program and look forward to assisting you and the other investigators as the analysis of those data proceeds. If I can be of further help, please do not hesitate to call.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey L. Stith, Ph.D.
Manager, Research Aviation Facility

• Updated Pages on this web site
  This page has a summary of updates to this project's web site since its official release on 5 May 2005. Next to each link in the page is the date of its most recent change.


• Flight Summary Information Matrix


• Data Download
  • Production Output netCDF Files (Low Rate)
  • Production Output netCDF Files (High Rate)
  • Digital Camera Files
  • Digital Camera Movie Files
  • Raw PMS-2D Binary Files
  • Differential GPS


• Data Logs
  • Output Data File Measurement Lists
    • Categorized Low-Rate RAF Variable List
    • Categorized High-Rate RAF Variable List
    • Low-Rate Variable List from Production netCDF File
    • High-Rate Variable List from Production netCDF File
    • Updated descriptions of some "No title" variables
      (These titles are missing from the netCDF header.)
  • SCD Mass Store System Bitfile List (RAF path)
  • SCD Mass Store System Bitfile List (ATD path)
  • Raw Aircraft (ADS) Data Summary


• Output Data Format
  • Example Production Output netCDF File Header (Low Rate)
  • Example Production Output netCDF File Header (High Rate)
  • netCDF Information


• Reports
  • Project Managers' Data Quality Report
    • Section I: General Discussion
    • Section II: Flight-by-Flight Summary
    • Section III: Special Notes on the High-Rate Data Set
  • Research Flight Reports
  • Digital Images and MPEG Movies
  • Differential GPS


• Research Instrumentation
  • Aircraft Instrumentation List
  • Summary of Instrument Calibration Factors
  • Selected Instrument Uncertainties
  • Inertial Reference Unit Performance Summary
  • Aircraft Configuration (Click on an image below to see larger, detailed view)


• Project Photos
• Exterior Photos
• Cabin Photos


• RAF Bulletins
  • RAF Bulletin No. 9 Standard Output Data Products
  • RAF Bulletin No. 23 Measurement Techniques: Air Motion Sensing
  • RAF Bulletin No. 24 Airborne Measurements for Cloud Microphysics
  • RAF Bulletin No. 25 Passive Broadband and Spectral Radiometric Measurements Available on NCAR/NSF Research Aircraft


• Project Support Information
  • RAF Software Product Guide


• Project-Related Links
  • RICO support page from NCAR/EOL/CDS Data Management Group
  • Bjorn Stevens RICO Web Site
  • Gabor Vali's flight notes, photos and other material
  • Assorted Photos Taken from the Seward Johnson, courtesy of Paquita Zuidema, U. Miami