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First Global Hawk Dropsonde Launch

First Global Hawk Dropsonde Launch. Dropsonde Operations in HS3 2012. G. A. Wick, J . R. Spackman , T. Hock, and M. L. Black . Prelude: Ongoing Analyses. WISPAR analyses nearing completion Atmospheric River analysis AR transport characteristics Comparison with NWP reanalyses

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First Global Hawk Dropsonde Launch

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  1. First Global Hawk Dropsonde Launch Dropsonde Operations in HS3 2012 G. A. Wick, J. R. Spackman, T. Hock, andM. L. Black

  2. Prelude: Ongoing Analyses • WISPAR analyses nearing completion • Atmospheric River analysis • AR transport characteristics • Comparison with NWP reanalyses • Publication to be submitted within ~1 month • Arctic flight • Janet Intrieri leading publication for submission • Comparison with satellite integrated water vapor underway • HS3 Pacific comparison desirable • Global Hawk dropsonde system overview paper getting underway

  3. WISPAR – AR Analysis

  4. HS3 2012

  5. NCAR/NOAA GH Dropsonde System Dropsonde System Launch Tube Dropsonde System Electronics Dropsonde Launch Assembly

  6. Dropsonde 2012 Summary • High-altitude, long-endurance UAS

  7. 2012 Flights • High-altitude, long-endurance UAS • 55,000 – 65,000 ft • Wing Span: 116.2 ft

  8. 2012 Accomplishments • First operations with Ku communications • Improved system operability and data display • Raw D-files downloaded during flight • Real-time ASPEN processing • Near real-time posting of skew-T plot to MTS • Near real-time transmission to GTS • Data referenced in NHC Nadine forecast discussions • Full 8-channel capability demonstrated • ~90 second launch spacing at our discretion • New record number of sondes deployed • Real-time feedback on cloud top heights • Demonstrated deployment flexibility in additional Atlantic FIRs

  9. Near Real-time Data Display • dum Nadine Flight, 14 September 2012

  10. HS3 2012 Sample Results • 5 science flights to date Nadine flight 22-23 March 2012 Nadine flight and rapid launch sequence14 March 2012 BASED ON THE IMPROVED SATELLITE APPEARANCE AND TROPICAL CLASSIFICATIONS OF 2.5 AND 3.0 FROM SAB AND TAFB... NADINE IS CLASSIFIED AS A TROPICAL STORM ONCE AGAIN. DROPSONDE DATA FROM AN ONGOING NASA GLOBAL HAWK MISSION SUGGESTS THAT THE MAXIMUM WINDS ARE NEAR 50 KT. A DROPWINDSONDE NEAR THE CENTER AROUND 1030 UTC MEASURED A PRESSURE OF 989.9 MB WITH STRONG WINDS...SO THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 986 MB. TROPICAL STORM NADINE DISCUSSION NUMBER 44 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER 1100 AM AST SUN SEP 23 2012

  11. Impact of HS3 Dropsondes for Nadine Track Error (nm) Intensity: Max. Wind Error (kts) No drops No drops HS3 drops HS3 drops Bias (dash) Intensity: Min. SLP Error (hPa) No drops • Dropsondeimpact experiments performed for 19-28 Sep. (3 flights) • Red: with HS3 drops • Blue: No drops with synthetics • COAMPS-TC Intensity and Track skill are improved greatly through assimilation of HS3 Drops. HS3 drops Bias (dash)

  12. ESRL Science Directions • Tropical-extratropical transition: trough interactions • Aerosol-cloud-precipitation interactions: Role of SAL • HS3 science investigations: Build collaborations with investigator teams that are using the dropsonde data

  13. System Performance Statistics • Launcher Performance • 1 system jam due to parachute cap anomaly • 89% deployment success: 343 of 387 desired • 1 sonde stuck in dispenser • Additional safety latch spring problem on S-NPP underflight • 100% IR communication success • Sonde Performance • 1 failed temperature sensor • 1 sonde with no GPS data • Overall System Statistics • Percentage of sondes with useable data/real-time display: 92% • Telemetry issues to follow

  14. Data Retrieval and Telemetry Performance Flight #1 Drops Black: % of good PTU And GPS Winds data Red: % of bad PTU data Green: % of bad GPS Wind data

  15. Data Return to the Surface Flight #1: No RF Interference, system and sondes performed very well Flights #2 to #6: RF Interference, significant impact to data retrieval

  16. HS3 2012: Science Flight #2 (Nadine) • Two AVAPS 400 MHz Spectrum Analyzer data frames during Flight • Average noise floor jump 10 dB ( -110 dBm to ~ -100 dBm ) • These plots are 6 seconds apart in time Minimal RF Interference (Drop #1) RF Interference( All subsequent Drops) approx mean: -102 dBm approx mean: -110 dBm

  17. Drop #1 of Flight 2 No RF Interference Raw Data of Temp, RH, Wind Speed versus Pressure)

  18. Drop #8 of Flight 2 RF Interference Raw Data of Temp, RH, Wind Speed versus Pressure

  19. Drop #31 of Flight 3 RF Interference Raw Data of Temp, RH, Wind Speed versus Pressure) Plane Banking Complete loss of data

  20. Lessons Learned • Two AVAPS team members required in the PMOF • Dedicated drop operator necessary because of intensive comms • Science seat valuable for real-time science interactions and coordination of drop plan modifications • Availability of additional team for real-time processing almost a necessity • Real-time data use feasible and highly beneficial • Sonde preparation more time consuming than expected (~4 hours for 80 sondes) • Lack of testing opportunities in flight configuration adds risk • Opportunities to debug during high-tempo operations is limited • End-to-end communications testing in hangar desirable • Formal pre-flight testing procedures required

  21. Status/Plans for 2013 • 2012 Quality-controlled data just released • 2013 sonde production underway • 550 sondes to be available • 5 week deployment planned for 2013 • August 20 through September 23 • Expect 5-6 flights • 2 aircraft operations from NASA Wallops

  22. Plans for Addressing Interference • Relocate antenna to tail of aircraft • New double-shielded high-quality coax cable • Modified transmission of wind data • Plans to test fly computer system in May

  23. Summary • Many important new firsts this year • Ku-band data transfer • Near-real time processing and display • Real-time data utility demonstrated • Forecast discussions • Real-time flight planning • Poor telemetry impacted data quality • Loss of data near surface and during maneuvers • RF interference issues must be resolved • Improvements required for manufacturability of parachute cap

  24. Extra Slides

  25. Global Hawk Dropsonde Overview • Developed through collaborative partnership between NOAA, NCAR, and NASA • Relies on NCAR/EOL’s long experience with dropsonde development, aircraft launch systems, and data Q/C processing • Uses new Global Hawk sonde: smaller and lighter than standard dropsondes • System has 88-sonde and 8-channel capacity (track 8 sondes simultaneously) • Automated telemetry frequency selection • D-file returned to ground following drop • Ground processing enables GTS transmission

  26. NASA Global Hawk UAS • High-altitude, long-endurance UAS • 55,000 – 65,000 ft • 28 hour endurance • Wing Span: 116.2 ft • Length: 44.4 ft • Payload: >1500 lbs • Communications • Iridium • Ku-band high rate Global Hawk Global Hawk Operations Center (GHOC)

  27. Sonde Specifications • Size: 4.5 cm dia. X 30.5 cm length • Mass: ~167 g • Fall rate: ~11 m/s at surface • Sensors based on Vaisala RS-92 radiosonde sensor module • Temperature: +60° to -90 ° C , 0.01 ° C resolution • Humidity: 0 to 100%, 0.1% resolution • Pressure: 1080 to 3 mb, 0.01 mb resolution • 2 Hz update rate • Winds based on OEM GPS receiver and position • 4 Hz update rate • Stable cone parachute design • Remote control of power on/off and sonde release • Designed for extreme environmental conditions

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