NCAR_G5 Scientist Mission Summary Report (PACDEX)


Author of report: Stith
Mission Number: rf13
Type of Mission: research
Start of Mission(UTC): 2007/05/23 02:15
End of Mission(UTC): 2007/05/23 10:15

Submitted at(UTC): 2007/06/04 20:36


MISSION REPORT:

Ferry to Hawaii from Japan today, with some profiles enroute.
Just after climbout from Japan we encountered a dust plume at 29
thousand feet, one of the strongest dust encounters of the
project. High IN values were observed in this plume. After that
encounter, cleaner air (without the dust mode) was then
observed, and later, another section of dust. We then traversed
just south of the remains of Typhoon yutu, hitting some of its
clouds. 
At the SE side of this storm, we did a cloud profile in mostly
clean air. We then traversed to about 170 West to a location
where the STEM model suggested we might find dust (higher) and
sulfate (low). We did a descent profile and found a dust layer
near 11 thousand feet, and another layer below it. We collected
a 10 min sample in the lower layer, then climbed to reach the
dust, but missed it. 
The soundings near 170 west should, however, be a clear air mid
Pacific dust and aged aerosol profile. For parts of the upper
troposphere today we also found very clean air, and some
suggestions of new particle formation on the CN. An excellent
day for IN measurements and for a mid Pacific Aerosol profile.
Black Carbon was relatively low on this day, compared to other
days.