Summary Information Date: April 21, 1996 ER-2 Flight Number: 96-106 Location: Oklahoma CART Site Principle Investigator: Dr. Brian Toon (NASA Ames) Additional Sensors: B&W_6"_RC-10, MIR, CLS, RAMS, HIS Level-1B Processing Information Level-1B Data Version: #10 Calibration Type: Final Calibration Version: SUCCESS_Ames 1.0 Temperature Adjustment: No Status: Final Calibration Done

Flight Track Map

Level-1B HDF Data Distribution Point
NASA GSFC Earth Sciences (GES) Data Center
NASA DAAC's

Additional Information The objective of this mission was to observe cirrus clouds of various ages and contrails in the presence of cirrus. and investigate differences in the radiative signature of contrails and natural cirrus. Take-off time was 1655 UTC and landing 2350 UTC. ER-2 flew 240 and 60 degree oriented lines (approximately 110 n mi long) over the ARM CART site (36 36.3'N 97 29.1'W) in coordination with the DC-8. ER-2 was at the CART site at 1815 UTC and the cirrus was moderate. On the 1823 to 1840 UTC the cirrus had thickened (could barely see the ground) and was extensive. During the later part of the cooridnated flight with the DC-8 the clouds over the ARM site began to break-up. ER-2 ended a coordinated pattern with the DC-8 at 2138 to overfly convection in vicinity of the ARM site. Convective overflights were of mature storms except the last leg when he flew over a storm that was just beginning to have cirrus blow-off. Location and times of thunderstorm runs were 36:09N 97:46W (2138 UTC) to 38:00N 94:19W (2207 UTC); 38:0N 94:10W (2213 UTC) to 37:55 N 90:45 (2225 UTC) to 36:42N 96:13W (2237 UTC) to 36:00N 97:27W (2248 UTC) to 35:48N 98:17W (2253 UTC) to 37:37N 97:00W. The pilot reported lots of cirrus and contrails (including that of the DC-8) over the ARM CART site. There was an extended contrail toward end of coordinated runs with the DC-8. The pilot then overflew cold convective cloud tops where a pileus cloud was noted. A commercial aircraft contrail was noted at 1812 UTC. During legs between 2045-2103 and 2109-2129 the ER-2 flew over the DC-8 traveling in the opposite direction. Followed a long contrail (50-100 n. mi) during the 2109-2129 UTC leg. Circle rings of DC-8 spiral run near the end of the coordinated segment were visible from the ER-2. While over mature storms did have an "elevator ride" but not too much deviation in altitude. Reports of thunderstorm tops near 57K feet were consistent with pilot's observations. Growing cell reached 45K feet.