Al Cooper

1
Ongoing Development and Support EOL Plans for
Deployment of HIAPER in Support of Environmental
Research

• Al Cooper
• Jeff Stith
• Earth Observing Laboratory (EOL)
• HIAPER Debrief
• 9 November 2005

2
Scientific Opportunities

• Climate and climate change
• Atmospheric chemistry, esp. at the interface
  between the troposphere and the stratosphere
• Weather research, with global coverage and
  ability to cover large weather systems
• Global cycles of water, carbon, nitrogen, and
  energy
• Aerosols
• Studies of clouds
• Interpretation and extrapolation of observations
  from satellites

3
Important Measurements

• Climate and climate change
• Radiative transfer in the atmosphere
• Radiative effects of clouds
• Nature of convective structures and circulations
• Concentrations of water vapor and other trace
  gases
• Measurements on spatial scales comparable to
  those of climate models
• Measurements that support interpretation of
  observations from satellites
• Atmospheric chemistry
• Measurement of the concentrations of trace gases
  and of the radiative fluxes that drive
  photochemistry
• Emphasis on the upper troposphere / lower
  stratosphere
• Measurements of the chemical composition of
  aerosols
• Characterization of transport over large distances

4
Important Measurements (2)

• Weather research
• Dropsonde capability for targeted observations
  covering large areas and released from high
  levels
• Temperature and water vapor profiles
• Measurements of precipitable water
• Characterization of hydrometeors and
  precipitation
• Mesoscale characterization of air motions and
  thermodynamic structure
• Global cycles of water, carbon, nitrogen, and
  energy
• Extensive coverage of the troposphere
• Ability to measure fluxes and transport of these
  key atmospheric constituents

5
The Style of Support

• We provide measurement capabilities to
  scientists, and try to anticipate and address
  their needs.
• These vary from project to project, so the
  instrumentation, flight plans, locations, etc.,
  change with each project.
• Our mission is more than flight operations
• Instrumentation and measurement science
• Assistance with project design and implementation
• Installation of instrumentation, and assistance
  with design to meet standards
• Training of investigators in preparation for
  missions
• Delivery, archival, and interpretation of data
• Flexibility and versatility are important to our
  style of support.

6
A gt35 Year History of Flight Operations
In addition to the C-130 and Electra shown
here Buffalo Sabreliner King Air Queen
Airs Sailplane
7
Critical Aspects of Support

• Planning and preparation for projects
• Providing suitable instruments and assistance
  with their use and interpretation
• Development of instruments and capabilities
• Flight operations
• Data handling
• Other tools for supported investigators
• Maintenance, certification, and other aspects of
  safe and reliable operation

8
Planning and Preparation for Projects

• Interactions with scientists during planning
• Assessment of feasibility
• Assistance and guidance with design,
  construction, and certification of instruments
• Plans for operations
• Preparation for field operations
• Installation of user-supplied equipment and
  provision for instrument complements tailored to
  the scientific needs

9
This installation, from a C-130 project, shows an
example of the kind of instruments that we
install and fly. This rack contains instruments
for the measurement of ozone and carbon monoxide.
A payload for a chemistry project might have ten
or more racks like this on the aircraft.
10
Providing Suitable Instruments

• Maintain a set of standard instruments (to
  measure temperature, wind, etc.)
• Make available a set of special-use instruments
  that meet needs of anticipated experiments
• Conduct studies of the performance of sensors and
  document their characteristics
• Anticipate future needs and promote development
  projects to address them.

11
Continued Development of Instruments and
Capabilities

• HAIS instruments provide a superb core set of
  measurement capabilities. Assuming responsibility
  for these is a major challenge for EOL.
• The development effort has also made it possible
  to fill some of the gaps left by that set, esp.
  in wind measurement, aerosol characterization,
  and other basic capabilities
• There are opportunities to augment measurement
  capabilities, esp. in regard to long-wave
  radiation, some chemistry needs, remote-sensing
  capabilities, and some aspects of aerosol and
  cloud physics.

12
Field Operations

• Field programs often require 12-20 weeks
• Research lasts 4-8 weeks
• 6-8 weeks typical for installation of specialized
  instruments
• 2-4 weeks for removal and necessary maintenance
• Expect to be able to support two full projects
  per year (with additional small-project and test
  periods)
• Plans are based on a long-term goal of 400 flight
  hours per year, after completion of the
  instrumentation tasks
• Crew (for both aircraft, cross-trained) four
  pilots, 6 mechanics, 7 technicians, 3 project
  managers, 2 engineers, 3 software engineers, 2
  aeronautical engineers, and additional scientists
  devoted to other support

13
The Flight and Support Crews

• Four pilots
• Extensive experience with research projects
• (20 y typical)
• Key participants in project planning,
  feasibility, and safety

Mechanics, technicians, project managers and
scientists with experience supporting
research projects and making airborne measurements
14
Data Handling

• Quality Control, Documentation, and Education
• In-the-field quality checks (including automated
  checks)
• Characterization of data quality before final
  release of the data
• Formal, documented uncertainty characterization
  for all measurements!
• Ready access via the NCAR Community Data Portal,
  via integrated data sets
• Continued support via interactions with users
• A special role in regard to education of
  potential users

15
Other Tools for Support of Investigators

• The Virtual Operations Center will feature
• Telemetry to and from the aircraft, with the
  ability for investigators with internet access to
  participate virtually in experiments and even
  control their instruments remotely
• Remote participation of investigators in daily
  planning and operational decisions
• Education and outreach opportunities
• New software tools for analysis of data

16
Maintenance, Certification, and Other Aspects of
Safe and Reliable Operation

• Factory-trained mechanics and adherence to a
  required maintenance schedule
• Starting from an aircraft certificated in the
  standard transport category, with modifications
  to accommodate the flexible installation of
  instruments
• Compliance with FAA standards for safety of
  instrumentation, aircraft modifications, and
  other aspects of research operations
• Other contributions UCAR Safety Office, RAF
  Safety Committee, safety officer program,
  training program for mission scientists, etc.

17
Challenges

• Assumption of responsibility for instruments
  developed by others
• Finding ways to continue development of
  instruments for HIAPER, following the HAIS model
• Certification A new mode of operation for most
  of the community
• Expansion to communities of users outside those
  traditionally supported