P-3 Chief Scientist Event/Radar Log

Flight Number: 011213H

IMPROVE-II Flight #5

Date: December 13, 2001 Aircraft ID: N42RF

Chief Scientist: Colle

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Doppler Scientist: Sharp Radar Tech: McMillan

Cloud Physics Sci: Colman Data Tech: XXX

Radar parameters: PRF1=PRF2 =1600, 0.50 microsecond pulse

Setup file = IMPR1

Pulses/sample = 32

Threshold on REF

Alternate Setup = IMPR2

Mission Description:

Scientific Crew: Brian Colle (PI), Justin Sharp (radar), ??? (cloud physics)

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
204023 Z (47.90025, -122.28064) 99.084°, 972.9 mb, 3.0 m	Engine Start. Wind 198@2.4. T=6.4. Td=6.3 Psfc=973
204606 Z (47.90031, -122.28116) 337.734°, 972.7 mb, 9.0 m	Block Out
205210 Z (47.92112, -122.28416) 358.712°, 973.6 mb, 7.0 m	Radar up
205238 Z (47.92168, -122.28316) 83.813°, 973.3 mb, 8.0 m	One hour delay called. Number one start valve problem. Heading back to the hangar.
205850 Z (47.90800, -122.28348) 177.899°, 972.1 mb, 9.0 m	Radar down.
215401 Z (47.90053, -122.28056) 91.433°, 969.3 mb, 3.0 m	Engine Start. Variable light wind 170-250
220054 Z (47.90047, -122.28058) 176.032°, 968.9 mb, 3.0 m	Block out T=7.1;Td=6.8. Wind on taxiway 179@13.9. Psfc=969.5
220921 Z (47.90670, -122.28555) 179.077°, 970.8 mb, 5.0 m	Take off.
221213 Z (47.81314, -122.35242) 276.158°, 882.5 mb, 839.0 m	Radar starting up.
222037 Z (47.53315, -122.66292) 193.810°, 706.0 mb, 2696.0 m	T=3.9C;Td=3.9C;Z=9700m. Needle and aggregates.
222600 Z (47.26814, -122.87079) 220.686°, 628.9 mb, 3626.0 m	Excellent radar coverage. Precip. Highly stratiform with clearly visible bright band.
224401 Z (46.10787, -123.01904) 177.581°, 560.7 mb, 4382.0 m	Still very good radar coverage. Temperature warming as we move south. T= -12.4. Dendrites.
225323 Z (45.47267, -122.97414) 180.315°, 564.4 mb, 4474.0 m	Start descent to 6000ft. 255/57 at 14250. -8C: 12200ft. Dentrites. Few needles and needle clusters. 252/59. RH 100% -4C: 9900ft. More needles. 249/66. Area of moderate chop.
225855 Z (45.12265, -123.00816) 204.683°, 731.3 mb, 2497.0 m	Frrezing level. 7650Ft. 241/59. Moderate chop.
230244 Z (44.94910, -123.06636) 175.970°, 798.0 mb, 1732.0 m	Point A. 6450Ft AMSL. T1.6. RH=100%+. 238/77. Moderate chop. Convective cell about 15km ahead.
230558 Z (44.78348, -123.05608) 179.093°, 798.2 mb, 1758.0 m	6450 ft. 60 mile from PT F. 235/70. T=1.9. Mainly liquid water. Some aggregated melting ice. Good radar coverage. Mainly strat with a some embedded cells. Chop still moderate.
231338 Z (44.37650, -123.03514) 178.358°, 798.8 mb, 1739.0 m	35 miles from F. Whole AF leg at 6450 feet so far. T:1.2C 235/69. Gust to 80. Hurricane force winds just reported by pilot:)
231934 Z (44.07651, -123.02928) 180.249°, 798.4 mb, 1727.0 m	Surface visible. Cloud base approx. 6100. Traffic seen. Climbing to 8000 early.
232047 Z (44.00908, -123.02951) 180.162°, 797.9 mb, 1702.0 m	False alarm. Staying at 6450ft. 12Miles from F. 1.4C 238/74. Smooth air
232439 Z (43.81005, -123.02853) 181.999°, 797.1 mb, 1667.0 m	At point F. Climbing to 8000ft. T1.5 236/68.. AF Leg took 23mins 40 secs
	Freezing:7400ft. Level 8350ft. T=-1.6. Moderate chop. Aggregates
232753 Z (43.77461, -122.69901) 91.271°, 743.1 mb, 1485.0 m	Radar down. 233/68
233127 Z (43.96507, -122.56126) 357.398°, 742.8 mb, 2008.0 m	Just north of G. 62 miles to B. 8350Ft. T=-2C. 234/68. F->G : 3min 55sec
233349 Z (44.13544, -122.56654) 359.674°, 742.9 mb, 2094.0 m	Radar up. 50 miles from B. T=-2.6; Td=-1.5 235/70. Moderate chop. Td>T for some time now. Supersat wrt water expected but some values look a little too sat. Prob. Ok but worth checking. Radar coverage is still excellent. Some cellular echoes to the west.
233827 Z (44.48302, -122.56723) 357.889°, 743.0 mb, 1595.0 m	Microphysics down. 30 miles from B
234526 Z (45.00491, -122.56227) 28.705°, 741.7 mb, 1994.0 m	At point B. G->B leg done at approx 8350ft. G->B took: 16mins 30secs T=-1.7. 240/75. Making the turn and climbing to 11K. Physics back up.
234746 Z (45.03534, -122.29631) 90.753°, 677.8 mb, 1969.0 m	10800: -5.9C 249/80 Note: -4C at 9780 feet. Needles, aggregates and some rimed dentrites
234912 Z (45.03246, -122.12306) 111.936°, 660.5 mb, 2136.0 m	At point C. 11360 feet. T= -6.6. Td= -7 247/75. B->C 4 mins.
235147 Z (44.88167, -122.08351) 178.777°, 660.9 mb, 1787.0 m	Predominately needles. Lots of them. T= -6.8. Smooth air
235624 Z (44.61497, -122.08304) 179.572°, 661.0 mb, 2333.0 m	Still almost all needles. Starting to get a some ice on the wing. At 41 miles from H T= -6. Td= -7.2. 250/83.
000331 Z (44.20911, -122.08203) 179.647°, 661.0 mb, 2073.0 m	Microphysics down again. Enhancement over terrain ridges seen on radar.
000955 Z (43.81623, -122.08873) 171.254°, 661.2 mb, 1817.0 m	C -> H leg completed in 21min 3secs. Leg at 11350 ft. Pretty smooth leg. T= -7.6; Td= -8.3 257/81
001152 Z (43.77084, -121.89420) 98.640°, 622.8 mb, 2260.0 m	H->I Climbing to 13K. 13380Ft: T=-10.2; Td=-10.7 255/82
001344 Z (43.74422, -121.66594) 98.596°, 609.9 mb, 2677.0 m	At I. H->I Approx 4 mins. T=-9.8; Td=-10.1; 254/80. Microphysics still down.
002204 Z (44.30367, -121.62157) 355.846°, 609.9 mb, 2946.0 m	T=-9.7. Td=-10.8. 255/77. Very smooth air.
003200 Z (45.02245, -121.55893) 76.014°, 613.6 mb, 2990.0 m	At point D. I->D completed at approx 13380 ft. Time: 16mins 34secs T=-8.9 ;Td=-13.2; 261/60.
003213 Z (45.02721, -121.53154) 76.456°, 618.9 mb, 2954.0 m	Descending to 10000ft towards pt E. -8C@12200ft 11000ft: t=-5.4; Td=-8 255/84
003506 Z (45.06289, -121.16113) 105.521°, 686.9 mb, 2266.0 m	At Pt E. Time for D-> E 4mins 5secs. 10360Ft: t=-4C; Td=6.2 256/80. Heading towards Pt J Precip thinning substatially to the east
004154 Z (44.66370, -121.13007) 178.466°, 687.4 mb, 2276.0 m	Radar down. 53 miles from Pt J
004430 Z (44.51184, -121.13329) 182.143°, 687.4 mb, 2127.0 m	Radar up. 42 miles from J. T= -4.7C; Td=-5.2; 250/74
004649 Z (44.38351, -121.13603) 181.523°, 687.2 mb, 2146.0 m	36 miles from J. Slight chop.
005106 Z (44.11162, -121.12985) 176.601°, 687.1 mb, 2032.0 m	Microphysics back up. RH is dropping rapidly in last 10 miles. Dropped 4C while I typed this. Now T= -2 Td= -8.5C. No cloud particles
005526 Z (43.86850, -121.14572) 275.722°, 676.7 mb, 1724.0 m	At J. 11000. -4.1/-9.4. 251/80. E->J 20 mins 3 secs. Heading to K and climbing to 13K 12200Ft: -6/-11.5
005922 Z (44.04223, -121.29639) 326.311°, 610.0 mb, 2835.0 m	Cloud particles observed again. Can see lee surpression on radar
010402 Z (44.30408, -121.52985) 310.596°, 609.7 mb, 2997.0 m	At K. J->K 8mins 48 secs
011119 Z (44.14043, -122.00313) 244.154°, 609.8 mb, 2898.0 m	49 miles from F. Huge dentrites very pristine dentrites visible. Beautiful!
011255 Z (44.10531, -122.10925) 246.192°, 610.7 mb, 2601.0 m	Now descending slowly from 13K to 6K. 44 miles from F. Will get some descent data below: 13000: t=-10.9F; Td=11.1; 255/73 12000: t=-9.1; td = -9.5; 257/71. Big dendtites. t=-8C; At z=11300; Td=-7.9; 255/65. 11000: t=-7.4;td=-7.1; 255/65 10000: t/td= -5.4/-5.4; 256/60 Slight chop. Aggregates, rimed t=-4; z=9100ft; td=-4.1; 252/52. Crystals look very rimed. Few needles appearing. Quite a lot of liquid water. 8000: t/td = 2.2/2.2 240/52. Moderate chop. 0C: z=6450ft Td=0.5; 239/50 Nearly isothernmal from 7100 to 6500 (0 to -0.9C). Areas of fairly ssevere chop.
012836 Z (43.83696, -123.04393) 4.566°, 796.2 mb, 1684.0 m	Missed the turn due to the chop! 69 miles to A. 6500 feet. Siting on the freezing level. 237/55.
013404 Z (44.24532, -123.02542) .590°, 796.3 mb, 1734.0 m	45 miles from A. Seem to be out of the rough stuff. T/Td=0.7/-0.1. 231/57
014713 Z (45.06541, -122.68637) 76.303°, 769.3 mb, 1993.0 m	At A. T/Td= 0.4/0.5; 243/62. Mod. Chop. F->A approx 18min 20sec but approx as missed the turn at F. Leg done at 6500 feet. Now heading to B and climbing to 8K. (Data taken at A, but LHS entry added between A and B
014911 Z (45.02110, -122.54942) 187.778°, 769.2 mb, 1678.0 m	At B. 7425. A->B 4mins 20 secs. T -1.5/-1.2 229/57. Moderate chop. Precip. Thinning around us but filling back in to the west.
015742 Z (44.54487, -122.55588) 177.452°, 739.8 mb, 1603.0 m	At 8450ft 45 miles from G. T/Td=-3.1C/-3.2C. 239/59
020114 Z (44.34431, -122.54181) 185.496°, 739.9 mb, 1587.0 m	34 miles from G. Just flew through a warm area. T rose to about -1.5C for same altitude (8450ft). Lots of needles seen.
020604 Z (44.08192, -122.56676) 178.914°, 739.8 mb, 1287.0 m	Moderately severe chop briefly. Precip. Seems to be filling in to our NW, with 40 dbz on -ve tilt scan. Stil very little echo directly around us.t/td= -3.2/-3.6 240/60
021123 Z (43.78807, -122.52592) 123.970°, 710.9 mb, 2223.0 m	Lots of needles. At G. T/Td=-3/-5.2 148/60 Majority of BG flown at about 8450ft except initial part when still climbing. B->G time:22mins 10 secs.
021409 Z (43.78519, -122.21391) 86.534°, 659.0 mb, 2452.0 m	Reached H after Climb to 11400ft. T=-8.4/-7.7 Very few cloud particles. 246/75. G->H 4 mins 20sec.
021823 Z (44.03703, -122.07861) 358.048°, 658.9 mb, 1934.0 m	58 miles from C. Radar is really thinning except to NW. T/Td=-9.3/-8.5; 238/60. Much more turbulent than first lawn mover leg.
022749 Z (44.73656, -122.08429) 1.152°, 658.2 mb, 2190.0 m	Just hit an updraft (poss gravity wave) at about 2:26:20. Jump in cloud particles and precip. At about the same time. Radar has really filled in again. Fair amount of large crystals.
023112 Z (44.99904, -122.07504) 23.138°, 643.6 mb, 2836.0 m	At point C. H->C 16 mins. Climbing to 13K at heading to D.
023247 Z (45.05436, -121.91560) 80.380°, 604.2 mb, 2899.0 m	Levelled at 13600 and making the turn 10 miles from D. T=-13. Dewpoint sensor just failed ( possibly iced up). Slowly coming back to life. C->D 4mins 28sec
023533 Z (45.02706, -121.60718) 171.953°, 608.1 mb, 2819.0 m	Heading towards I. T/Td=-11.6 (Dewpoint still all over the place). 245/60. Fairly ice crystals. Td settling down to about -11.5C. Good radar to west. Looks like some embedded convection, Thinner to the east. Hitting some more bumps. 3M/s at approx 2:40:30.
025855 Z (43.85142, -121.65674) 9.896°, 607.9 mb, 2467.0 m	Just passed I. Data at I: T/Td -12.4/-12.8 248/72.5. D->I 22mins 50secs. Leg done at 13473. Not doing JE leg. Now heading to K for slow descent to F. Nice dendrites.
030332 Z (44.24029, -121.54128) 11.165°, 607.9 mb, 2920.0 m	Can see upslope in radar and shallowing echo in the lee around the 20 km range ring.
030450 Z (44.31419, -121.57469) 251.429°, 608.2 mb, 2965.0 m	At K, 13460ft. Leg time: 7min 22sec. T=-11.5; td=-15.9; 251/63
030914 Z (44.20963, -121.88518) 243.084°, 613.3 mb, 2404.0 m	13200: T/Td=-12/-12.2. 250/62 12925: T/Td=-11.3/-11.7 252/67 12000: T/Td=-10/-10.1 248/62 T=-8: z=11150ft; Td=-8.8; 250/63 11000: T/Td=-7.6/-8 250/60 Transition to mostly needles 10000: T/Td=-6.9;-6.3 250/52 Moderate turbulance 10100-10000. 9000: T/Td=-5.3/-4.6 253/51 Still mod turb. T=-4: z=8230ft; Td=-3.3 245/53. 8000: T/Td=-3.6/-2.7; 247/49 Rimed crystals and aggregates. Moderate turb. 6500: T/Td=-0.8;-0.9; 257/36. Moderately severe turb. Good radar coverage. Cloud depth still about 6km.
032619 Z (43.80268, -123.03801) 330.302°, 797.1 mb, 1651.0 m	At point F. T/Td=-1.2/-0.8; 258/44 K->F 21min 45sec
033008 Z (44.06456, -123.03282) .425°, 797.2 mb, 1699.0 m	Nice view down below of Eugene! Much less precip. Here. Pretty smooth.
033239 Z (44.23717, -123.03268) 358.915°, 797.5 mb, 1716.0 m	Slight chop.
033747 Z (44.58102, -123.03406) 359.874°, 797.2 mb, 1735.0 m	Significant turb at 3:36:30. 8m/s vertical motion.
033946 Z (44.71900, -123.03276) 359.356°, 797.5 mb, 1750.0 m	Very little radar coverage at the moment. Almost no precip. A little cooler towards A too. T/Td=-2.2/-2.4 256/47. Can see Salem
034239 Z (44.91833, -123.03246) 357.954°, 797.4 mb, 1752.0 m	Nose radar indicates a few cells ahead. And it was right!
034422 Z (45.03324, -123.00653) 52.561°, 796.0 mb, 1760.0 m	Made the turn at A. Hit a big bump. +7.5 and -10.0. Approx 3:44. Climbed to 9500 heading to C. Moderate to moderately severe chop. T=-6.6/-6.3 249/58 F->A 18min 50sec.
034955 Z (45.05311, -122.38309) 91.384°, 708.6 mb, 1851.0 m	12 miles from C 9570ft. Radar coverage increasing again as we near the crest. Now climbing to 11000ft
035157 Z (45.05337, -122.14508) 92.811°, 658.5 mb, 2444.0 m	2.5 miles from C. 11465Ft. Making the turn. T/Td=-9.9/-10.6 258/55. Needles and plates. Heading to H. A-> C 8 mins 25 sec
040230 Z (44.40169, -122.08786) 178.701°, 657.9 mb, 2129.0 m	37 miles from H. T/Td=-10.6/-12 251/55 Moderate chop. Good dual dopplar coverage
041230 Z (43.75751, -122.01875) 82.840°, 644.4 mb, 1866.0 m	At point H. T/Td=-10.5/-10.9 256/47 C->H 19 min 50sec Leg flown at 11468ft. Fairly smooth until 6 miles from H, then slight chop.
041315 Z (43.79543, -121.95770) 25.337°, 624.4 mb, 2051.0 m	Climbing to 13K -14C@13450ft Td=-16F. Heading to Q at 13500ft. Good radar coverage in this area Some cells off to the r
042236 Z (44.50196, -121.54060) 23.526°, 607.4 mb, 2810.0 m	2 miles from Q at 13500. About 5 mins ago saw amazing St.Elmos fire on the Cockpit window. Just like a plasma ball. I wonder what the ice crystals looked like. T/Td=-14.2/-16 252/63.
042542 Z (44.56725, -121.62730) 239.508°, 618.9 mb, 2943.0 m	Descent to 10500: 12000:T/Td= -11.2/-12.2 263/55. Slight chop. 11000: T/Td=-9/-10.8 261/51 Moderate chop at 10500ft.
043048 Z (44.42516, -121.95438) 240.069°, 684.9 mb, 1820.0 m	Moderate to moderately severe turbulance.
043339 Z (44.34417, -122.14482) 237.510°, 683.0 mb, 1718.0 m	Fairly high frequency turbulence. Radar sketchy to right (NW), but good coverage to left (SE) with some embedded convection.
043710 Z (44.24981, -122.36620) 240.271°, 684.1 mb, 2100.0 m	36 miles from P. Much calmer air. T/Td=-9.7/-14 246/56. Almost no precip at flight level
043912 Z (44.19259, -122.49872) 239.014°, 683.5 mb, 2423.0 m	More moderate chop. 28 miles from P. Main echo still off to left, much less to the right, though it seems to be weakening everywhere now especially foreward scan.
044740 Z (43.94512, -123.06372) 221.651°, 683.9 mb, 2881.0 m	At P t/td=-10.5/-12 250/38. QP leg 24min 25sec. Climbing to 11500 feet heading to pt H.
045132 Z (43.85425, -122.72160) 98.068°, 660.9 mb, 2591.0 m	Experiencing some moderate chop. 4:48:37 VV=7m/s. 22 miles from H. Z=11400ft. T/Td= -12.1/-12.8 246/58
045647 Z (43.79759, -122.12804) 73.223°, 660.3 mb, 2164.0 m	2.5miles from H. T/Td=-11.4/-14.2 253/65 PH leg: 9mins 25 secs. Starting H->C at 11400ft
050117 Z (44.11195, -122.08255) 359.948°, 660.1 mb, 1752.0 m	Moderate turbulance. Radar really filling out again to east with terrain enhancement. Can see eacho sloping up the terrain.
050656 Z (44.52946, -122.08780) 359.636°, 659.5 mb, 2335.0 m	Short burst of dentrites and/or hex columns interupting the previously boring crystals. T=-12.2; Td=-12.8
051019 Z (44.78056, -122.08989) .205°, 660.2 mb, 2236.0 m	Haven't seen a detectable wind shift but its getting colder along this leg. At H it was -11.4/-14.2. Now it is -13/-13. Humidity is fluctuating rapidly between supersaturated and about 90%.
051328 Z (45.00151, -122.08720) 359.738°, 660.1 mb, 2475.0 m	At C: z=11400ft A->C 16mins 35secs T/Td=-12.5/-13F. 246/47. Now climbing out to cruising altitude and heading home.
051656 Z (45.22256, -122.20308) 334.582°, 576.4 mb, 3772.0 m	14000: T/Td=-19.1/-19.1 15500: T/Td=-21/-27.6 16500: T/Td=-24/-25.5 242/49 Level at 16600: T/Td=-23/-27 246/47 Above precip. But a fair depth of ice still overead.
055332 Z (47.74178, -122.55676) .859°, 853.7 mb, 1118.0 m	Heading into final approach. 4700 feet. Starting to hit some chop. Wind 270/10kts, not seeing the expected strong southerlies yet. 4000ft:270/28. 1.6C VV:+- 5m/s 3500ft300/95.3 3000ft:3.2/2 297/11 2500ft:4/3.4 297/2 2000ft:5.3/3.2 199/8
060951 Z (47.90208, -122.28159) 104.958°, 964.8 mb, 10.0 m	Landed about 0607Z. Taxi to hangar.
061130 Z (47.90023, -122.28058) 261.763°, 964.9 mb, 10.0 m	Engines off.