ER-2 Flight: 97048

Date: February 10, 1997

Mission: Cloud detection at Night.

Mission Objectives

Overfly thin high cloud and broken low cloud for testing MODIS nighttime cloud detection using 4 micron MAS channels. Underfly the ADEOS instrument (0405 UTC) with IMG turned on for comparisons to the HIS instrument in uniform background conditions.

Flight Summary

Take-off was delayed on the apron until 2320 UTC. ER-2 landing at 0345 (early because of deteriorating local weather conditions).

ER-2 flew from Madison to western end of Lake Erie, with MAS recording data on the 2nd half of that leg. Sky conditions reported by pilot to be clear to high cirrus. Then flew northward to S. Canada (51n, 83w), overflying bkn cloud of varying thicknesses. Pilot reported he didn't see much high cirrus (probably because of night conditions) but CLS data show abundant thick to thin high cloud. ER-2 then flew to Chicago, again flying across a lot of bkn thin to thick high cloud, likely with low undercast. At Chicago, pilot decided to break off flight due to reducing ceiling/visibility in Madison with snow. This precluded an ADEOS underflight.

Highlights

thin to thick cirrus at Night

Instrument Status

• Modis Airborne Simulator (MAS): Operated, Port 4 dewar going soft in last 10 minutes of data collection.
• Cloud Lidar System (CLS): Operated, data collected.
• High-Resolution Interferometer Sounder (HIS): operated, data collected.
• Millimeter-wave Imaging Radiometer (MIR): Operated in stare mode, data collected.
• Tilt Scan CCD Camera (TSCC): Not Flown.
• RC-10 Camera: Not Operated.

Additional Pilot Notes:. Pilot noted that he didn't think he saw much cirrus, however, high cloud was evident in GOES8 imagery. Very nice Aurora Borealis during the flight.