KA-20240822a

KA-20240822a#

ec_under ec_track spiral insitu_aerosol

Crew#

Tim Carlsen, Sorin Ghemulet, Alex Vlad

EarthCARE target scenarios

Cumulus and marine aerosol: Marine low clouds.
Mixed aerosol types: Marine and Saharan dust.

Flight summary

During the research flight on 22nd August 2024, we targeted an Saharan dust layer between sea level and 4km during clear-sky conditions. We encompassed the EarthCARE overpass (orbit #1333E) with a downward and upward spiral measuring the aerosol in-situ. Additional coordination involved the so-called 'Quadlocation' with HALO and ATR overflights over the King Air at the time of the EarthCARE overpass.

Track#

track

Flight path superimposed on the natural color image from NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) 16 satellite on 22nd August 2024 at 15:50 UTC. The location of the aircraft at the time of the EarthCARE overpass is shown by the orange cross.

Conditions#

Mostly clear-sky conditions, only very isolated scattered low clouds. No high clouds during EarthCARE overpass. Saharan dust aerosol layer up to around 4km altitude. Temperatures during the in-situ spirals varied between -10°C and +25°C.

Flight video#

This video shows the forward and sideward view from the King Air aircraft together with live data (basic navigation data, aerosol/cloud in-situ data) during the EC leg and HALO/ATR overpass.

Events#

Time (UTC)

Comment

14:41

Takeoff Praia

15:41

EarthCARE overpass (orbit #1333E)

15:41

Collocation with ATR and HALO

16:40

Landing Praia

Execution#

  • takeoff: 14:41 UTC (13:41 LT)

  • 14:59 UTC: arrival WP, start holding pattern

  • 15:01 UTC: still climbing

  • 15:02 UTC: CAS speed 86 m/s looks good

  • 15:09 UTC: practising racetrack pattern during hold

  • 15:17 UTC: Pilots talk with ATR pilots

  • 15:19 UTC: WP2 (other end of racetrack)

  • 15:20 UTC: start descent FL200, 1000 ft/min, CAS looks good, WP1 of racetrack

  • 15:29 UTC: WP2 of racetrack

  • 15:40 UTC: same heading, continue after WP1 until EarthCARE passes

  • 15:41 UTC: EC meet (orbit #1333), start ascent 1000 ft/min

  • around EC meet: Overpass of ATR (planned @FL200/180) and HALO (planned @FL430/350)

  • 16:00 UTC: FL200

  • 16:02 UTC: WP2 of racetrack, FL200, WP1 ascent complete

  • 16:02 UTC: going home

Impressions#

  • 14:45 UTC: shortly through cloud, now above cloud deck

  • CAS saw aerosol in dust layer, now clean, only scattered clouds below, no cloud above

  • 15:20 UTC: clear sky, only very scattered clouds below

  • 15:23 UTC: Tamb -3°C, FL167, TAS170kt

  • 15:25 UTC: FL144

  • 15:26 UTC: seeing some aerosol

  • 15:28 UTC: FCDP sees particles, TAS140kt, FL117, Tamb 5.5°C

  • 15:29 UTC: number concentration 14 cm-3

  • 15:31 UTC: FL85

  • 15:34 UTC: FL55, Tamb 17°C, number concentration 4 cm-3

  • 15:38 UTC: FL024, number concentrations up to 50 cm-3 measured during descent

  • 15:40 UTC: FL010

  • 15:47 UTC: FL075, 15 cm-3

  • 15:51 UTC: FL115, 3 cm-3, FCDP also saw aerosol on way up

  • 15:51 UTC: still hazy out, but no clouds, only scattered below, no high clouds visible

  • 15:55 UTC: Tamb 0°C, FL156

  • 16:00 UTC: FL200

Instrument status & quicklooks#

Instrument

Operational

Comment

CAS-DPOL

✅

None

CIP

✅

None

LWC Hotwire

❌

None

FCDP

✅

None

2D-S

✅

None

CPI

✅

None

GoPros

✅

None

EarthCARE MSI image (RGR-1C:AF) with EarthCARE ground track (red) and King Air flight track (yellow).

Sideward view from King Air at time of EarthCARE overpass 15:41 UTC.

Screenshot of the Planet interface during the ‘Quadlocation’ of the KingAir, HALO, ATR, and EarthCARE

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