ER-2 Flight: 99058

Date: March 31, 1999

Mission: Cirrus properties.

Mission Objectives

Overfly HSRL at SSEC repeatedly on line oriented (240 deg) upwind with cirrus in data scenes. HSRL will provide cloud optical depth and particle phase for comparison to cloud properties from ER-2 instrumentation.

Flight Summary

Take-off was at 1600 UTC. ER-2 landed early at 1800 UTC due to rising local winds.

ER-2 spiraled up from Truax and towards GRB and turned back to get on NE to SW oriented (240 deg) flight line (43:09.6n 89:14w to 42:18n 91:07w).  This line is oriented upwind at cirrus level (20 to 25K ft). On first leg, patchy cirrus right over HSRL site (1642 UTC).  Thinner cirrus upwind.  On 2nd leg (return towards MSN), only very thin cirrus as cirrus continued to dissipate (SSEC at 1717 UTC).  After 2nd leg, pilot advised to return for landing due to local winds rising. HSRL operating.  AERI on roof at SSEC was operative. CLASSonde launched at 1615UTC (good flight).

Highlights

Patchy cirrus over HSRL.

Instrument Status

Additional Pilot Notes: sturbulence at SW end of flight leg (about 1651 and 1708 UTC, ed.)