Flight 23: Kona-Dryden Transit (9 April, 2001)
A final intercomparison between the P-3B and DC-8 was planned
for this flight. The intercomparison was planned to include a 20
minute leg at 17.5 Kft, a descent to 1000 ft at 500 ft/min., and
another 20 minute leg at 1000 ft. The P-3B then planned to
turn 180 degrees and retrace the leg at 1000 ft to allow for a
test of the Georgia Tech aerosol composition measurement with and
without the removal of large particles (>1 micron). Given
time constraints, the P-3B would then have to ascend to maximum
altitude and proceed to Dryden.
Results: The intercomparison with the DC-8 went as planned
with all instruments in operation. The reverse track at 100
feet also went as planned with similar conditions and no problems
with encountering exhaust from the previous pass. At high
altitude heading for Dryden, clean conditions (e.g., 65 ppbv O3,
100 ppbv CO, 150 pptv NOy) were encountered, followed by stratospheric
conditions (e.g., O3 >200 ppbv). At the end of the flight,
convective activity over the west coast was encountered. Some
large fluctuations in NO were observed (> 500 pptv). These
fluctuations were most likely due to convective pumping of polluted
air since the stormscope detected no lightning activity