MODIS Airborne Simulator (MAS)

This flight had 4 main objectives: 1) sampling for a TRMM overpass that was scheduled for 1810 UT that would overfly the South Florida region, 2) sampling of cirrus blow-off coming down from Atlantic maritime convection, and 3) coordination of an overflight of the eastern ground site at 1930 with WB-57F, Citation, and Proteus, and 4) sampling of developing Cb over the south Florida region.

After climbing to altitude, the ER-2 proceeded to waypoint A (25° 08´ N, 805° 32´ W), and performed the coordination leg with the TRMM overpass. The plane continued on a heading towards the Atlantic maritime convection near waypoint B (29° 34´ N, 79° 25´ W). After returning to waypoint A, the ER-2 was redirected by NPOL to sample a growing Cb that was located near Okeechobee. The cirrus blow-off from this system moved southeastward. The orientation of the ER-2's flight track was parallel to this cirrus between waypoints D (25° 40´ N 81° 30´ W) and F (26° 54´ N 80° 42´ W). The ER-2 continued to sample the core and cirrus of this evolving system over the entire day until landing at 2025 EDT.

AQUA Overpass @ 1809 (UTC); VZA = 52.37° (relative to eastern site)
TERRA Overpass @ 1639 (UTC); VZA = 52.39° (relative to eastern site)
TRMM Overpass @ 1810 (UTC); VZA = 6.39°, Heading = 63.3° (relative to eastern site)

Western Site: PARSL, Everglades National Park, Gulf Coast Visitor's Center
Location: 25° 50.0´ N , 81° 23.´4 W (25.83°, -81.39°)

Eastern Site: Kendall-Tamiami Airport
Location: 25° 39.3´ N, 80° 25.9´ W (25.66°, -80.43°)

• CoSSIR: Failed after 5 minutes.
• CPL: Operated; good data.
• CRS: Operated; good data.
• EDOP: Operated; good data.
• JLH: Operated; good data.
• MAS: Operated; good data.
• MMS: Operated; good data.
• MTP: Operated; good data.
• RAMS: Operated; good data.
• SSFR: Operated; good data.
• Vaisala Dropsonde: 6 dropped; good data
  
  

• Takeoff times (UTC): WB-57 (1619), Proteus (1400), Citation (1400), Twin Otter (1530), P-3B (1400)
• WB-57: In situ sampling along the D-F flight line underneath the ER-2 between 1930 and 2330 UTC, primarily between 14 and 16 km.
• Proteus: Remote sensing observations along A-B flight track until the ER-2 crossed over the Atlantic coast, and again along the C-D flight line through the remainder of the flight. Excellent coordination from about 1820 to 2330 UTC.
• Citation: In situ sampling in lower regions of anvil over the western ground site and underneath the ER-2 and WB-57F between 1930 and 2230 UTC, primarily between 10 and 12 km altitude.
• Twin Otter: Low altitude observations along D-F flight line at an altitude between 1 and 4 km between 2000 and 2315 UTC.