NCAR Airborne Instrumentation Inventory

1. INSTRUMENT IDENTIFICATION

Instrument Designation:
Ophir III

Instrument Acronym:
XATO, OAT

Instrument Measurements:

a) Trace Gas


b) Cloud Physics/Aerosol


c) Radiation/Optical/Electrical
static (ambient) air temperature via infrared emission

d) Additional Capabilities


Resource Person/Developer:


Name:	Allen Schanot	Bruce Morley
Affiliation:	NCAR/ATD/RAF	NCAR/ATD/RAF
Phone:	(303) 497-1063	(303) 497-1018
Email:	schanot@ucar.edu	bruce@ucar.edu

Principle of Measurement:
Sense the spectral infrared radiance of CO2 (@ 4.255 uM) and determine the corresponding temperature of the emitting gas

In situ/Remote/Flux Measurement:
Remote

2. INSTRUMENT APPLICATION

Scientific questions to be answered:
What is the static air (ambient) temperature, especially in-cloud?

Field projects in which the instrument has been used:
1992-816 ASTEX/MAGE (Albrecht, Huebert)
1993-819 CEPEX (Central Equatorial Pacific Experiment) (Rogers, Hagan)
1993-817 TOGA-COARE (Carlson, et al.)
1995-162 SCMS (Small Cumulus Microphysics Study) (Knight, et al.)

Publications describing the instrument, applications and field project results:

3. Instrument Deployment

Altitude:
all

Aircraft Platform:
Electra (N308D), EC-130Q (N130AR)

Inlet Configuration/Location:
Fuselage window

Calibration/Cross Calibration:
Rosemount 102E2AL in clear air

Operator Requirements:


Data Collection:
external

Post-flight Data Validation, Processing, Hours per Flight Hour etc.
Calibration for each flight, and, perhaps, each flight leg
RAF NIMBUS software processor
Post-project validation by RAF Project Manager

Physical Characteristics:
Dimensions:
Weight:
Power:
Other:

4. Instrument Performance

Linear Range:
-60 °C to 30°C

Response Time:
< 0.5 Hz

Detection Limits:


Accuracy:
± 1.0°C

Precision:


Limitations (such as altitude, airspeed, etc.)

5. Alternative Techniques

6.Status/Plans

7.Comments