NSF C-130 Mission Summary Report (EPIC)

Flight Notes: RF04
ITCZ Mission
New pattern for the C-130. Lawnmower pattern tracking P-3 but .3 degrees
west of P3 track. Soundings from surface to 6000 m at end of each leg,
CP = Cloud Pass

142940	Take Off

150700	We have been in cloud at 4000 m since we left Huatulco.
 
151100	Descending to 200 m

154120	Entering research box. View to south shows heavy overcast convective
	clouds

154905	At the 200 m level there are modest concentrations of haze droplets
	larger than 1 um.

	Also a modest level of turbulence at this level
	 1 ms-1
	Aerosol concentrations are fairly low. CN about 300, pcasp<60,
	FSSP300 < 5

155630	Increase in haze as we pass beneath small Cu. Occasional drizzle

160015	FSSP-100 haze concentration and CN track each other

	SABL shows a lot of vertical structure in the backscatter profile.

161830	Going into extended region of rain

163500	Starting our sounding after first leg.

164300	Passing through 2900 m, drizzle and rain

164840	Entering upper cloud deck at 4660 m

155520	End of sounding

170800	Start second leg going north at 1500 m, Clouds all around with different
	cloud tops

172000	In between clouds but at almost 100% RH  Approaching cloud mass.

172350	CP

172700	CP

173050	Through light cloud

	Mostly drizzle

173215	CP, strong updraft, 10m/s

173340	CP

173730	CP

174500	CN is fairly elevated at this level but all other aerosol is very low.

175730	CP in a somewhat diffuse cloud, but no drizzle in this one

180050	Starting descent to surface

180545	Starting sounding after descending from 1500 m

182430	End of Sounding

183415	Starting our leg south at 2500 m

183600	CN shows high counts, very little drizzle

163845	Cloud pass. Prior to this pass there was a lot of drizzle and the CN
	and PCASP both were responding

184300	CP and turbulence

184359	CP, 10m/s updraft, flat

184620	Cloud Photo 2 looking south to show general disorganization of cloud
	system.

184900	Cloud Photo 3 looking at cloud tops we may penetrate

185030	CP near cloud tops. Drizzle, moderate updrafts

191230	Photos 4 and 5. Have deviated from track to penetrate cloud seen by
	P3 radar

191435	CP

191600	Starting down to surface

192300	Start of sounding

194050	End sounding

194330	Descending down through cloud

195100	Headed northbound, final leg at 4000 m

	A lot of structure in aerosol, particularly CN

195415	Currently between cloud layers, RH close to 100%
	Very low aerosol concentrations

201000	CP, very long CP along NS axis of a cloud line. Several cells
	This has excellent coverage from the P3 radar. At this point they
	are slightly ahead of us to the east.

203215	CP

204000	CP

204800	We are at 3 C but 2D and pilots see aggregates of ice crystals

205130	CP

205300	End of study