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

Date: 11 Sept 2000

UW Flight Number: 1836

Goals of Flight:

Obtain measurements in marine stratus off Namibian coast beneath Terra overpass at 0942 UCT and ER-2 overpass.

Period of Flight (engines on to engines off: UTC): 0835-1222

Location: Off central Namibia coast.

Weather Conditions: Thin broken stratus.

Accomplishments:

  1. Flew beneath Terra track but only encountered very thin broken stratus. Some measurements in below and above thin broken stratus.

  2. Vertical profile to 12,200 ft in clear air for sunphotometer and in situ comparisons.

  3. Two sets of five BRDF measurements of sand in Kuiseb Desert just south of Walvis Bay (at 23 deg 23 min 44 sec south/14 deg 38 min 38 sec east), Namibia.

Main Instrument Malfunctions:

  1. "New" PVM probe has large noise spikes in cloud.

  2. Sunphotometer not working after vertical profile to 12,800 ft.

  3. See Squawk list.

Flight Scientist: Peter Hobbs

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

Activity

0843

Take off.

0843-0901

Climb to 12,800 ft.

0901-0928

Transit at 12,800 ft to get under Terra track.

0928

Descend to thin broken stratus cloud. 10 deg temp inversion above cloud top.

0940-0948

Search for thicker and more extensive stratus.

0955-1000

180 deg turn and head south to location where ER-2 reported more extensive stratus. Some measurements above, in and below thin broken status. Ran out of stratus completely heading south.

1000-1030

Continued hunting (in vain) for suitable stratus.

1030-1100

Climb to 12, 200 ft for sunphotometer and in situ profile.

1100-1137

Head back to shore, descending in steps.

1138-1208

Two sets of five turns for BRDF measurements of sand in Kuiseb Desert (23 deg 23 min 44 sec south/14 deg 38 min 38 sec east). (Two photos of sand by PVH).

1208

To Walvis Bay to land.

END