UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON'S CONVAIR-580 FLIGHTS FOR SAFARI-2000

Date: 3 September 2000

UW Flight Number: 1830

Goals of Flight:

  1. BRDF measurements over grass and white pan in Sua Pan (parabola and grassland sites) at 20 deg 34.63' south/26 deg 04.82' east for BRDF.

  2. Spiral profile and low-level run over Sua Pan. Terra overpass at 0852 UTC.

  3. Sample power plant plume at Matimba, 23 deg 43.6' south/27 deg 41.31' east .

Period of Flight (engines on to engines off: UTC): 0702-1238

Location: Sua Pan, Botswana.

Weather Conditions: Thick haze, and smoke.

Accomplishments:

  1. Done, although extremely thick smoke and strong winds (>15 kts) caused some delays in executing the BRDF circles due to excessive drift and difficulty visually locating good sites. 1st BRDF over grass/trees partially satisfactory - but considerable inhomogeneity. Second BRDF far better with good homogeneity at surface.

  2. Vertical profiles went well with some "enhancements" to the vertical profile climb in the form of 5 minute legs at 100 ft agl over Pan, 8,000 ft, and 15,000 ft.

    Radiometer and sunphotometer measurements impacted by scattered cirrus clouds that were occasionally overhead of the aircraft.

  3. Could not sample power plant due to lack of time.

  4. Excellent data in long ferry legs to and from site at 10,700 and 8,000 ft, respectively, in thick homogeneous (old?) smoke. No real smoke plumes detected. No fires sighted, although poor visibility made it unlikely that any but those very close would have been seen.

Main Instrument Malfunctions:

See Squawk list.

Flight Scientist: A. Rangno

Approx. UCT Time
(UTC = local time minus 2 hours)

Activity

0710

Take off.

0710-0718

Climb to 10,600 ft.

0718-0818

Transit at 10,400 ft. Chemical and physical measurements at 10,600 ft (gradually increasing pollution approaching Sua Pan).

0818-0829

Climb to near free troposphere at 15,100 ft.

0829-0833

Run at 15,100 ft for sunphotometer.

0833-0843

Descend in spiral to 100 ft agl.

0843-0856

Run at 100 ft agl over grass/brush/trees to sand of Sua Pan; about equal time over grass/brush/trees and Sua Pan. Terra overpass at 0852 UTC.

0856-0858

Climb to 2,000 ft agl.

0858-1001

BRDF circles at 2,000 ft agl at 2 sites, grass/brush/trees near Sua Pan and over Pan itself.

1001-1005

Descend to 100 ft agl for straight run over Sua Pan marking the start of the vertical profile.

1005-1013

Straight run over Sua Pan at 100 ft agl.

1013-1018

Spiral climb over Sua Pan.

Climb to 8,400 ft for mid-point of aerosol layer sampling.

1018-1028

Straight run at 8,400 ft.

1028-1037

Spiral climb to 15,000 ft and free troposphere over Sua Pan.

1037-1046

Level run at 15,100 ft over Sua Pan and beyond for sunphotometer and aerosol measurements.

1046-1054

Descend into thick smoke at 8,400 ft for chemical measurements at a different level than those en route to Sua Pan.

1054-1217

Ferry leg to Pietersburg.

Chemical and aerosol measurements in extremely thick relatively homogeneous haze and smoke.

1217-1223

Descend to land

1223

Land

END