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

Date: 13 September 2000

UW Flight Number: 1837

Goals of Flight:

  1. Underfly Terra and ER-2 off Namibian Coast. Terra overpass at ~0930 UTC (1130 local) at 20 deg 56' south/13 deg 04.8' east (point A) to 20 deg 26.7' south/13 deg 11.2' east (point B).

  2. BRDF measurements over Etosha National Park.

Period of Flight (engines on to engines off: UTC): 0826-1416

Location:

Off Namibian coast under Terra and ER-2.

Weather Conditions:

Stratus at take off and in flight.

Accomplishments:

Goal #1 done fully. Goal #2 not done (no time). 3) Vertical profile with chemical measurements from above cloud top to 16,800 ft.

Main Instrument Malfunctions:

See Squawk list. (Seem to be getting good agreement between FSSP, JW and PVM, and maybe DMT, LWC; but noise on PVM and occasionally on JW).

Flight Scientist: Peter Hobbs

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

Activity

0836

Take off.

0836-0843

Climb.

0845-0853

Run at 1,500 ft above cloud top.

0855-0900

Run in stratus off coast while heading for point A.

0900-0904

Run below cloud base.

0906-0911

Run 1,500 ft above cloud top.

0914-0919

Run in cloud.

0920-0928

Run below cloud base between points A and B.

0930

Terra overpass; ER-2 above.

0930-0940

Run in stratus between points A and B.

0940-0948

Run below cloud base between points A and B (CCN spectra).

0950-0955

In cloud between points A and B.

0957-1009

1,500 ft above cloud top between points A and B (2 photos).

1011-1017

In cloud heading to A.

1018-1027

Below cloud base heading to A, then to B.

1028-1038

In cloud A to B; above cloud B to A.

1048-1102

Five CAR turns for BRDF measurements of cloud tops (pilot's wind 250 mag/5 kts).

Descend to just above cloud top.

1111-1115

Run just above cloud top to northeast.

1115-1134

Spiral upward at 1,000 ft per minute to 16,800 ft.

1135-1140

Descend to 13,000 ft.

1140-1200

Level at 13,000 ft for complete set of filter etc samples. (Clear slot just above cloud top, followed by uniformly polluted layer above).

1201-1212

Descend to 9,488 ft.

1212-1214

Descend to 8,400 ft.

1214-1220

Run at 8,400 ft.

1220-1225

Descend to 5,600 ft (clear slot).

1225-1255

Ten turns for BRDF measurements of stratus cloud tops.

1255-1258

Descend to cloud top in same location.

1258-1300

Run above cloud top.

1300-1310

In cloud, heading back to Walvis Bay.

1310-1314

Below cloud base heading back to Walvis Bay.

1314-1328

In cloud.

1328-??

Above cloud top.

??

Hand over to pilots for cabin pressure checks. Should have some measurements on dust during landing approach.

1413

Land in Walvis Bay.

END