P-3 Chief Scientist Event/Radar Log

 

Flight Number: 011204H

 

IMPROVE-II Flight #3

Date:  December 4, 2001      Aircraft ID: N42RF 

Chief Scientist: Bond

            ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

            Doppler Scientist: Colle  Radar Tech: McMillan

          Cloud Physics Sci: Colman           Data Tech: XXX

          Radar parameters:         PRF1/PRF2  3200/2133, 0.25 microsecond pulse

                                      Setup file = PACJ2

                                      Pulses/sample = 32

                                      Threshold on REF

                                      Alternate Setup = PACJ1:  PRF 1600, 0.50 pulse

          Mission Description:

          Scientific Crew: Rebecca Morss (observer), Dave Jorgensen (Radar/PI), Doug Miller (Comms), Fred Rosenfelt (Obs), Pete Manousos (Obs), Bob Creasey (Obs), Bob Helms (Obs)

          AOC Crew: Taggart (P), Halverson (P), Wade (FE), Damiano (FD), Newman (N), Rogers (tech), Lynch (data), McNamara (tech), Delgado (dropsonde)

           

 

Event Log

Time (Lat, Lon), Track (deg), Static Pressure (mb), Radar Alt (m)

Event & Comments

2:27pm

Engine Start

2:32pm

Block Out

2:39 pm

Takeoff

 

Actual takeoff

 

entered cloud base

224526 Z (47.72373, -122.51717) 230.612°, 781.3 mb, 2035.0 m

wind 250 at 15 kts

224807 Z (47.60429, -122.62686) 192.210°, 718.2 mb, 2596.0 m

tail radar up 5 minutes ago.

225854 Z (46.91788, -122.93411) 185.375°, 569.8 mb, 4345.0 m

radar down. Convective tops around aircraft to 4.5 km.

230331 Z (46.59182, -123.05453) 196. 23

cloud station up and working.

230640 Z (46.36724, -123.11476) 175.418°, 571.0 mb, 4140.0 m

radar back up 5 minutes ago.

231136 Z (45.99902, -123.06897) 172.824°, 572.2 mb, 4064.0 m

radar down. Within widespread echo at mid-levels. Radar was filling in before it went down.temp -25.2 C

231741 Z (45.57755, -123.00696) 175.738°, 572.0 mb, 4368.0 m

all radars up again. Within widespread/uniform ice cloud from 5 km to surface. Echoes surprisinglt uniforrm even if with steep lapse rates.

231904 Z (45.48827, -123.02010) 189.826°, 594.5 mb, 4087.0 m

started decent to 6 k ft one minute ago.

232448 Z (45.11684, -123.04106) 178.609°, 810.6 mb, 1759.0 m

at 6 kt feet. Widespread echo around the aircraft to 75 km. Echoes light < 25 dBZ

232735 Z (44.94235, -123.03590)

just south of point A. To 25 dBZ over foothills 20 km west of aircraft. Nice gradual sloping echo field over foothills. 4.5 km deep. Temp        -5.5C,  winds 250 at 37 kts.

234707 Z (43.76271, -123.02628) 162.932°, 797.9 mb, 1619.0 m

At point F, starting climb to 8kt. Radar echo was weakening as we approached point F. Just light echo to15 dBZ within 20 km of aircraft.

235138 Z (43.73425, -122.61497) 56.622°, 753.0 mb, 1457.0 m

At point G, starting northbound leg at 8kt ft. Temp -8C, winds 242/38kts. Ecchoes below aircraft to 24 dBZ.

000510 Z (44.68037, -122.56819) 359.471°, 752.7 mb, 1741.0 m

Stratiform precip has filled in more around aircraft. Getting great doppler coverage and microphysics at -9 C, winds 244/31kts.

000955 Z (45.01089, -122.56090) 9.463°, 743.5 mb, 2009.0 m

At point B, starting climb to 11 kft. Got some nice dendrites around -10C.

001155 Z (45.12153, -122.43289) 70.908°, 669.9 mb, 2837.0 m

reached 11 kft. Winds 255/43kts, tempe-15.7C, Td-16.7C.

001425 Z (45.10608, -122.16867) 136.625°, 669.8 mb, 2585.0 m

stratiform precip to 24 dBZ. Some evidence of a secondary bright band around 2.5 km, probably within max dendrite growth region.

001630 Z (44.97415, -122.10022) 176.733°, 669.9 mb, 2680.0 m

reached point C a couple minutes ago. Winds 250/42kts. temp-17C

002758 Z (44.22675, -122.08504) 179.899°, 669.9 mb, 2282.0 m

temps have gradually increased to -15.2C. winds 257/42kts. Right at top of enhanced precip to 22 dBZ.

003435 Z (43.78763, -122.08191) 164.033°, 666.3 mb, 1788.0 m

At point H, climbing to 13 kft. Still in widespread precip. Did not notice any distinct precip enhancements over individual peaks during past leg. At 13kt temp=-19C, 283/43kts.

003906 Z (43.74596, -121.63779) 14.105°, 618.3 mb, 2583.0 m

At point G at 13kft. Winds 270/41kts. Precip covereage drops off significantly 15 km to the west of plane.

005110 Z (44.59812, -121.61647) 359.603°, 617.8 mb, 2882.0 m

radar down.

005151 Z (44.64896, -121.61702) 359.558°, 617.9 mb, 2952.0 m

radar quickly back up. Echoes only to the left of plane. Some evidence of sloping echo along the lee slope. Temp -19.5 C 270/43kts

005700 Z (45.022011447 Z (44.53233, -121.59709)

at point D, descending back down to 10kt. Encountered some lee wave turbulence just before point D.

010607 Z (44.75910, -121.13535) 180.062°, 693.3 mb, 2301.0 m

no much precip arround plane. Just to 5 DBZ.

010857 Z (44.57002, -121.13284) 189.086°, 692.4 mb, 2176.0 m

Breaking southbound leg at lat of point Q. To start west leg at 13 kft. Very little echo here.

011024 Z (44.53767, -121.23328) 270.525°, 642.2 mb, 2788.0 m

reached 13kft. Temp -17.7, winds 270/40kts.

011512 Z (44.53263, -121.63080) 271.160°,

radar down for a couple minutes.  Nice wave length structure in vertical velocity and a few good bumps.

011913 Z (44.53313, -121.95842) 269.604°, 642.0 mb, 2321.0 m

more widespread precip and dendrites. Started descent at 0121 UTC.

 

012522 Z (44.53279, -122.46231) 269.800°, 752.2 mb, 1842.0 m

ambient temperature about -9C; with large rimed dendrites and what appears to be some liquid water in cloud.

013023 Z (44.52911, -122.87538) 268.495°, 752.3 mb, 2036.0 m

Convair headed home about 1:20 UTC; lost air speed indicator.

013241 Z (44.52745, -123.06622) 271.598°, 750.7 mb, 2317.0 m

started climb and turn; uniform precip to west before we initiated turn.

014011 Z (44.46234, -122.61966) 237.720°, 645.4 mb, 2943.0 m

Very obvious secondary bright band extending across tail radar display; well below level of aircraft

014430 Z (44.40684, -122.90321) 32.776°, 645.7 mb, 3296.0 m

about over point M.  Will hold 12k ft until point o. -16.5C ambient. rimed dendrites.

015501 Z (44.43151, -121.71146) 90.902°, 643.4 mb, 2572.0 m

Wind holding right near 50 kt.  Precip very steady state with little horizontal variation.

020030 Z (44.39371, -121.61902) 282.060°, 644.9 mb, 1948.0 m

Started descent to 10k ft. Very close to crest of Cascades - westbound.

020344 Z (44.38945, -121.87445) 267.629°, 694.7 mb, 1544.0 m

10k ft ambient temp -13.5C; plenty of dendrites.

021522 Z (44.37776, -122.82436) 270.147°, 694.6 mb, 2747.0 m

Very near point M. 10K ft ambient temp as warmed to about -12.5C. Wind 256 at 35kt.

021825 Z (44.37933, -123.07571) 277.089°, 693.7 mb, 2922.0 m

End of leg west bound beginning climb....up up and away.  Heading home....a keeper!

025838 Z (47.32586, -122.73151) 8.994°, 808.0 mb, 1747.0 m

radar taken down.

032237 Z (47.90707, -122.28560) 178.341°, 985.6 mb, 9.0 m

landed.

032705 Z (47.90024, -122.28056) 176.644°, 985.6 mb, 6920.0 m

Engine off and block in