KA-20240827a

KA-20240827a#

in_cloud spiral meteor

Crew#

Robert Oscar David, Sorin Ghemulet, Marius Corbu

EarthCARE target scenarios

We performed indirect cal/val during this flight, flying underneath HALO (specMACS in particular) and above the RV Meteor.

Flight summary

During the research flight on 27th August 2024, we performed indirect calibration/validation with the primary focus being on the collocation with HALO and the RV Meteor. We performed cloud hunting within the field of view of specMACS on HALO to provide in-situ validation. Overall, we sampled many low, liquid marine clouds in the vicinity of the collocation leg and also collocated with the RV Meteor (unfortunately clouds too thin and non-precipitating to be visible with SEA-POL).

Track#

track

Flight path superimposed on the natural color image from NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) 16 satellite on 27th August 2024 at 16:50 UTC. The location of the aircraft at the time of the HALO overpass is shown by the orange cross.

Conditions#

At the westernmost part of the HALO collocation leg there were scattered clouds within the field of view (FOV) of specMACS that we targeted with in-situ observations. Around and above the RV Meteor it was mostly clear-sky with some scattered clouds.

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 collocation leg with the RV Meteor and HALO.

Events#

Time (UTC)

Comment

15:40

Takeoff Praia

16:50-17:15

Cloud hunting below HALO for specMACS collocation

17:25

Flight over RV Meteor

18:45

Landing Praia

Execution#

  • 15:40 UTC (14:40 LT): takeoff, heading to WP1

  • starting 16:50 UTC: Cloud hunting within the FOV of specMACS from HALO

  • 17:25 UTC: Collocation with RV Meteor

  • 18:45 UTC: landing

Impressions#

  • 15:41 UTC: TAS60kt, Tamb 27°C

  • 15:44 UTC: in-cloud, all probes working

  • 15:47 UTC: out of cloud, FL120, no more aerosol

  • 16:21 UTC: descending towards cloud top and approaching WP2

  • 16:24 UTC: FL136, aerosol

  • 16:31 UTC: in cloud @WP2, in and out of cloud

  • 16:34 UTC: in cloud, one tower

  • 16:53 UTC: no clouds really, just hunting run through the only cloud we have, FL020 just thin, in and out of cloud

  • 18:10 UTC: glory, Tamb 15°C

Instrument status & quicklooks#

Instrument

Operational

Comment

CAS-DPOL

✅

None

CIP

✅

None

LWC Hotwire

❌

None

FCDP

✅

None

2D-S

✅

None

CPI

✅

None

Gopros

✅

None

King Air spotted from the RV Meteor.

Hunting clouds within specMACS field of view during HALO overpass.

Cockpit view of the RV Meteor during overpass.

King Air spotted even lower from the RV Meteor.

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