Convection and Moisture Experiment

This data will be added in future versions

This data will be added in future versions.

The Scanning High-resolution Interferometer Sounder (S-HIS) is an airborne cross-track scanning interferometer developed by the Space Science and Engineering Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It measures the emitted thermal radiation between 3.3 and 18 microns at high spectral resolution. These measurements can be used to derive atmospheric profiles of temperature and water vapor in clear-sky conditions. S-HIS has a spatial resolution of 2 km and a swath width of 40 km at an altitude of 20 km at nadir. It has a sampling frequency of 0.5 s and an absolute radiance accuracy of 0.2 K.

This data will be added in future versions

This data will be added in future versions.

The Millimeter-wave Imaging Radiometer (MIR) is a cross-track-scanning radiometer that measures radiation at nine frequencies. MIR responds predominantly to atmospheric parameters like water vapor, clouds, and precipitation. This instrument, when operated on the NASA ER-2 high-altitude platform, provides radiometric data necessary for evaluation of radiative transfer models and development of retrieval techniques.

The Lightning Instrument Package (LIP) is an in situ airborne electric field detection system. LIP uses eight electric field mills and a conductivity probe to provide measurements of the three-dimensional components of the electric field of surrounding thunderstorms. LIP has a sampling frequency of 0.02 seconds and has an accuracy of 2.5%.

The Scanning High-resolution Interferometer Sounder (S-HIS) is an airborne cross-track scanning interferometer developed by the Space Science and Engineering Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It measures the emitted thermal radiation between 3.3 and 18 microns at high spectral resolution. These measurements can be used to derive atmospheric profiles of temperature and water vapor in clear-sky conditions. S-HIS has a spatial resolution of 2 km and a swath width of 40 km at an altitude of 20 km at nadir. It has a sampling frequency of 0.5 s and an absolute radiance accuracy of 0.2 K.

This data will be added in future versions

The Advanced Microwave Precipitation Radiometer (AMPR) is an airborne passive microwave radiometer. AMPR provides calibrated brightness temperature, which can be used to derive cloud and precipitation properties. It operates across four microwave channels: 10.7, 19.35, 37.1, and 85.5 GHz. These frequencies are sensitive to precipitation, thus making AMPR well-suited for rain event studies.

The MAMS is a multispectral scanner which was developed by modifying NASA's airborne Thematic Mapping Sensor. The MAMS is capable of producing high resolution imagery in the visible and infrared channels with detailed spectral resolution. It is typically flown at an altitude of 20 km.

This data will be added in future versions

The Lidar Atmospheric Sensing Experiment (LASE) is an airborne lidar system developed at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). LASE uses the differential absorption lidar technique to provide profile measurements of water vapor and aerosols in the atmosphere. LASE operates at the 815 nm wavelength and has a measurement frequency of 5 Hz. For aerosol scattering profiles, LASE has a horizontal resolution of 200m and a vertical resolution of 30m. It has a horizontal resolution of 5 km and a vertical resolution of 0.2 km for water vapor measurements.

The Meteorological Measurement System (MMS) is an in situ airborne instrument used for measuring atmospheric state parameters. MMS provides high-resolution and accurate measurements of atmospheric pressure, temperature, and wind direction/speed immediately around the plane. Additional parameters can be derived such as potential temperature, true airspeed, turbulence dissipation rate, and Reynolds number. Measurements of all parameters are typically collected at a rate of 20 Hz.

The JPL Laser Hygrometer (JLH) is an in situ airborne hygrometer developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It uses a tunable diode laser that operates at 1.37 μm to measure atmospheric water vapor in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. JLH has a minimum spatial resolution of 25 m and a detection range of 1 to 500 ppmv. It has a typical sampling rate of 1 Hz and can provide measurements at a precision of 0.05 ppmv.

This data will be added in future versions

The Airborne Vertical Atmospheric Profiling System (AVAPS) is an airborne system that utilizes dropsondes and Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers to collect in situ profiles of atmospheric state parameters. It provides profile measurements of temperature, pressure, and humidity at a sampling frequency of 0.5 s and measurements of atmospheric winds at a frequency of 0.25 s. AVAPS has a vertical resolution of about 10 m and can allow for dropsonde launches every 20 s. AVAPS was developed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) for the NASA Global Hawk, but it can be deployed on other aircraft such as the DC-8 and P-3.

This data will be added in future versions

The 2D-C/P Hydrometeor Imaging Probe (2D-C/P) is an in situ, airborne instrument that captures imagery of hydrometeors. It collects these images by recording the status (illuminated or shadowed) of the photodiode array as the shadow of the hydrometeors passes over. 2D-C/P also provides measurements of particle size distribution, cloud droplet concentration, and hydrometeor shape. Typically, 2D-C/P probes have an image resolution of 25 micrometers and can image hydrometeors with diameters up to 1600 micrometers.

The Airborne Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (AMMR) was a remote passive, airborne microwave radiometer. It measured thermal microwave emissions in terms of brightness temperature. AMMR consisted of an array of radiometers that operated at the following frequencies: 10, 18.7, 21, 37, and 92 GHz. It had a typical sampling rate of 1 second and a spatial resolution of 1-2 km at the surface.

A microwave imaging radiometer developed by Georgia Institute of Technology and NOAA for obtaining polarimetric microwave emission imagery of the Earth's oceans, land, ice, clouds, and precipitation. The basic concept of the PSR is a set of polarimetric radiometers housed within a gimbal-mounted scanhead drum. The original system has been extended - as discussed below - to greatly exceed the original design objectives by providing additional radiometric channels and expanded platform capabilities.

The Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe (FSSP) is an in situ airborne optical particle counter originally designed by Particle Measuring Systems, Inc. It provides particle size distribution by measuring the intensity of the light scattered by individual particles within the cloud. FSSP can detect particles within a diameter range of 0.5 to 47 μm. It operates at a wavelength of 633 nm and has a typical sampling frequency of 1 Hz.

This data will be added in future versions

This data will be added in future versions

The NPOESS Aircraft Sounder Testbed - Interferometer (NAST-I) is an airborne infrared interferometer maintained and operated by NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). It uses Fourier transform spectroscopy to provide measurements of brightness temperature and radiance. NAST-I operates within the spectral range of 3.7-16.1 µm and has a spectral resolution of 0.25 cm-1. It has a spatial resolution of 2.6 km and a cross-track swath width of 46 km at a flight altitude of 20 km. A complete scan period for NAST-I takes around 12.2 seconds.

The Millimeter-wave Imaging Radiometer (MIR) is a cross-track-scanning radiometer that measures radiation at nine frequencies. MIR responds predominantly to atmospheric parameters like water vapor, clouds, and precipitation. This instrument, when operated on the NASA ER-2 high-altitude platform, provides radiometric data necessary for evaluation of radiative transfer models and development of retrieval techniques.

The Lightning Instrument Package (LIP) is an in situ airborne electric field detection system. LIP uses eight electric field mills and a conductivity probe to provide measurements of the three-dimensional components of the electric field of surrounding thunderstorms. LIP has a sampling frequency of 0.02 seconds and has an accuracy of 2.5%.

The NPOESS Aircraft Sounder Testbed - Microwave (NAST-M) is an airborne microwave radiometer maintained by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It measures brightness temperature which can be used to retrieve water vapor profiles in the atmosphere. It consists of two radiometers with one operating across 8 channels between 50-57 GHz and the other operating across 9 channels at 118 GHz. In 2003, NAST-M was upgraded with two additional radiometers operating at 183 and 425 GHz to improve water vapor retrievals and the detection of small hydrometeors. NAST-M has a spatial resolution of 2.6 km and a cross-track swath width of 100 km at a flight altitude of 20 km. It has a typical integration time of 100 ms.

This data will be added in future versions

The Advanced Microwave Precipitation Radiometer (AMPR) is an airborne passive microwave radiometer. AMPR provides calibrated brightness temperature, which can be used to derive cloud and precipitation properties. It operates across four microwave channels: 10.7, 19.35, 37.1, and 85.5 GHz. These frequencies are sensitive to precipitation, thus making AMPR well-suited for rain event studies.

The MODIS Airborne Simulator (MAS) is an airborne multispectral spectrometer designed to simulate the satellite instrument Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS). MAS operates across 50 spectral channels in the 0.55 to 14.2 μm range to provide high-resolution imagery of clouds and surface features. MAS has a horizontal spatial resolution of 50 m and a swath width of about 36 km at an altitude of 20 km at nadir. It has a scan rate of 6.25 Hz with each scan line containing 716 pixels.

The MAMS is a multispectral scanner which was developed by modifying NASA's airborne Thematic Mapping Sensor. The MAMS is capable of producing high resolution imagery in the visible and infrared channels with detailed spectral resolution. It is typically flown at an altitude of 20 km.

This data will be added in future versions

This data will be added in future versions.

The Microwave Temperature Profiler (MTP) is an airborne microwave radiometer developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and later modified by NCAR. It measures thermal emissions from oxygen molecules in the atmosphere to prove temperature profiles above, below, and at flight level. It operates between 55 to 59 GHz and provides profiles every 17 seconds with 4 km horizontal spacing. MTP has a vertical resolution of 150 m near the aircraft.

The Lightning Instrument Package (LIP) is an in situ airborne electric field detection system. LIP uses eight electric field mills and a conductivity probe to provide measurements of the three-dimensional components of the electric field of surrounding thunderstorms. LIP has a sampling frequency of 0.02 seconds and has an accuracy of 2.5%.

The High Altitude Monolithic Microwave integrated Circuit (MMIC) Sounding Radiometer (HAMSR) is an airborne microwave sounder developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory under the NASA Instrument Incubator Program. HAMSR measures brightness temperature which can be used to derive three-dimensional profiles of temperature, water vapor, and cloud liquid water in the atmosphere. It operates across 25 spectral channels in 3 microwave bands (50-60 GHz, 118 GHz, 183 GHz) and has a sampling frequency of 5 seconds. HAMSR has a horizontal spatial resolution of 2 km at nadir and a field of view of about 40 km at an altitude of 20 km.

This data will be added in future versions

A dropsondes or dropwindsondes are in situ instruments designed to be released from aircraft. They are equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers and sensors to collect profile measurements of pressure, temperature, humidity, wind speed, and direction. Dropsondes are important during field investigations because they allow researchers to collect vertical profiles in remote locations and during severe weather events. Dropsondes typically have a vertical resolution of 5 m and provide measurements of wind speed/direction every 0.25 seconds and temperature, pressure, and humidity every 0.5 seconds.

The Advanced Microwave Precipitation Radiometer (AMPR) is an airborne passive microwave radiometer. AMPR provides calibrated brightness temperature, which can be used to derive cloud and precipitation properties. It operates across four microwave channels: 10.7, 19.35, 37.1, and 85.5 GHz. These frequencies are sensitive to precipitation, thus making AMPR well-suited for rain event studies.

The MODIS Airborne Simulator (MAS) is an airborne multispectral spectrometer designed to simulate the satellite instrument Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS). MAS operates across 50 spectral channels in the 0.55 to 14.2 μm range to provide high-resolution imagery of clouds and surface features. MAS has a horizontal spatial resolution of 50 m and a swath width of about 36 km at an altitude of 20 km at nadir. It has a scan rate of 6.25 Hz with each scan line containing 716 pixels.

The Lyman-alpha Hygrometer measures the absorption by water vapor of vacuum-ultraviolet light at the Lyman-alpha wavelength of atomic hydrogen (121.6 nm). Air from outside the aircraft is brought to the absorption cell by a forward facing open-ended cone inlet (SCAI inlet) and exhausted through a scarf tube. The instrument ionizes the water molecules themselves as they pass through. Using a high intensity direct current discharge lamp, light at 121.6nm (called Lyman-alpha light) photodissociates water molecules producing excited OH radicals. Fluorescence is produced as the OH radical emits photons at 309nm. Making use of a phototube sensitive to this wavelength and a counter, the amount of OH can be calculated. The ambient air in the sample diminishes this signal by an amount proportional to the mixing ratio, so knowing the ambient pressure and temperature yields the mixing ratio from which the total water is determined. The instrument is periodically calibrated in flight by injecting a known amount of water vapor directly into the sample.

The NOAA Dual-Beam UV-Absorption Ozone Photometer (NOAA-O3) is an in situ optical balloon-borne and airborne instrument that measures ozone concentrations in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. It operates at the 254 nm wavelength allowing it to calculate the ozone number density due to the accurate ozone absorption cross section at that wavelength. It has a sampling rate of 2 Hz and a horizontal resolution of 100 to 200 meters at typical research flight speeds.

The Shared Mobile Atmospheric Research and Teaching Radar (SMART-R) consist of two mobile C-band Doppler weather radars (SR-1 and SR-2). SR-1 operates at a frequency of 5635 MHz, and SR-2 operates at 5612.82. The SMART-R radars have been deployed to take radar measurements during tornadic storms, hurricanes, flash flooding events, and other precipitation events. It is owned and operated by the University of Oklahoma.

Ceilometers are ground-based, remote-sensing sensors that provide measurements of cloud ceilings and vertical visibility. They use either a laser beam or another light source to detect backscatter of clouds, precipitation, and aerosols. Ceilometers can provide detailed and accurate measurements in all types of weather conditions and have low operating costs. Ceilometers are typically used in boundary layer and cloud research applications.

This data will be added in future versions

This data will be added in future versions

An Electric Field Mill (EFM) is an in situ airborne and ground-based electric sensor designed and built at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). It measures the full vector components of the atmospheric electric field and provides details about the electrical structure within and around a storm. EFMs can detect both intracloud and cloud-to-ground lightning and can operate during large thunderstorm fields (thousands of volts/meter). An EFM has a typical time response of about 10 Hz.

The UHF Wind Profile is a Doppler radar that uses electromagnetic signals to remotely detect wind speed and direction. It operates at a frequency of 915 MHz and has a radar range of 75-300m. At this frequency, it provides continuous wind profile measurements up to the boundary layer.

The Rosemount Icing Detector (RICE) is an in situ airborne probe manufactured by Rosemount Inc. It is a magnetostrictive oscillation probe that detects changes in the frequency of oscillation due to ice buildup on the sensing cylinder. These changes in frequency can be related to the rate of ice accretion, which can be used to derive liquid water content. RICE has a typical sampling rate of 1 second.

C-band radar operated on belly of NOAA P-3 aircraft

This data will be added in future versions

The Tail Doppler Radar (TDR) is a vertically scanning, pulse Doppler radar installed on the tail of research aircraft. The original instrument, designed by NOAA and NCAR, was tested on NOAA aircraft and has since expanded to multiple platforms. This X-band radar with a magnetron transmitter has a scan rate of either five or ten rotations per minute and a corresponding range gate of 150 or 300 meters.

If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity

The 2D-C/P Hydrometeor Imaging Probe (2D-C/P) is an in situ, airborne instrument that captures imagery of hydrometeors. It collects these images by recording the status (illuminated or shadowed) of the photodiode array as the shadow of the hydrometeors passes over. 2D-C/P also provides measurements of particle size distribution, cloud droplet concentration, and hydrometeor shape. Typically, 2D-C/P probes have an image resolution of 25 micrometers and can image hydrometeors with diameters up to 1600 micrometers.

An Electric Field Mill (EFM) is an in situ airborne and ground-based electric sensor designed and built at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). It measures the full vector components of the atmospheric electric field and provides details about the electrical structure within and around a storm. EFMs can detect both intracloud and cloud-to-ground lightning and can operate during large thunderstorm fields (thousands of volts/meter). An EFM has a typical time response of about 10 Hz.

The King Probe is an airborne cloud probe developed by Warren King (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) and manufactured by Particle Measuring Systems (PMS) and Droplet Measurement Technologies (DMT). The King Probe provides measurements of cloud liquid water content (LWC) by measuring the heat released when water droplets are vaporized. The King Probe operates at a constant temperature (~100 C) and has a data output rate of 1 to 10 Hz. It is typically used in cloud microphysics and aircraft icing studies.

The Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe (FSSP) is an in situ airborne optical particle counter originally designed by Particle Measuring Systems, Inc. It provides particle size distribution by measuring the intensity of the light scattered by individual particles within the cloud. FSSP can detect particles within a diameter range of 0.5 to 47 μm. It operates at a wavelength of 633 nm and has a typical sampling frequency of 1 Hz.

If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity

Rain gauges are ground-based instruments that provide in situ measurements of liquid precipitation amounts over a set time. There are multiple types of rain gauges that each collect and record data differently such as the tipping bucket rain gauge and weighing precipitation gauge. Rain gauges can be deployed in various locations due to their relatively small size and easy set-up and are typically colocated with other precipitation instruments such as disdrometers to provide more details about precipitation being collected such as precipitation rate and size distribution.

This data will be added in future versions

This data will be added in future versions.

The X-Band Polarimetric Doppler Weather Radar (XPOL) is a compact, transportable polarimetric weather radar. XPOL collects reflectivity, Doppler velocity data, polarimetric radar parameters, to characterize clouds and precipitation. It has selectable range resolution and operates at frequencies ranging from 9.34 - 9.41 GHz.

The NASA S-band Dual Polarimetric Radar (NPOL) is a transportable, ground-based scanning dual polarimetric Doppler radar. As an active remote sensor, NPOL detects returned electromagnetic radiation to identify radar reflectivity, Doppler velocity, rainfall rate, particle size distribution, water contents, and precipitation type. Under typical operating conditions, NPOL has a beamwidth of 0.95° and a 150 km maximum range. NPOL is operationally equivalent to Doppler radars employed by the U.S. National Weather Service’s Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) network, but NPOL has the added advantage of being fully deployable.

If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity

The Microwave Temperature Profiler (MTP) is an airborne microwave radiometer developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and later modified by NCAR. It measures thermal emissions from oxygen molecules in the atmosphere to prove temperature profiles above, below, and at flight level. It operates between 55 to 59 GHz and provides profiles every 17 seconds with 4 km horizontal spacing. MTP has a vertical resolution of 150 m near the aircraft.

This data will be added in future versions

This data will be added in future versions

This data will be added in future versions

The Lightning Instrument Package (LIP) is an in situ airborne electric field detection system. LIP uses eight electric field mills and a conductivity probe to provide measurements of the three-dimensional components of the electric field of surrounding thunderstorms. LIP has a sampling frequency of 0.02 seconds and has an accuracy of 2.5%.

The Lyman-alpha Hygrometer measures the absorption by water vapor of vacuum-ultraviolet light at the Lyman-alpha wavelength of atomic hydrogen (121.6 nm). Air from outside the aircraft is brought to the absorption cell by a forward facing open-ended cone inlet (SCAI inlet) and exhausted through a scarf tube. The instrument ionizes the water molecules themselves as they pass through. Using a high intensity direct current discharge lamp, light at 121.6nm (called Lyman-alpha light) photodissociates water molecules producing excited OH radicals. Fluorescence is produced as the OH radical emits photons at 309nm. Making use of a phototube sensitive to this wavelength and a counter, the amount of OH can be calculated. The ambient air in the sample diminishes this signal by an amount proportional to the mixing ratio, so knowing the ambient pressure and temperature yields the mixing ratio from which the total water is determined. The instrument is periodically calibrated in flight by injecting a known amount of water vapor directly into the sample.

The Nevzorov liquid water content (LWC) and total water content (TWC) probe is a constant-temperature, hot-wire probe designed for aircraft measurements of the ice and liquid water content of clouds. The probe consists of two separate sensors for measurements of cloud liquid and total (ice plus liquid) water content. Each sensor consists of a collector and a reference winding. The reference sensors are shielded from impact with cloud particles, specifically to provide an automatic compensation for convective heat losses.

The High Volume Particle Sampler, also known as the High Volume Precipitation Spectrometer (HVPS), measures particle size distributions and obtains particle images in the size range of about 0.1 cm to 6 cm. It is an open-path instrument located on the outside of the aircraft, typically below the wing. A laser sheet throws a shadowgraph image of the hydrometeor (cloud droplets or ice crystals) in the sample volume on a photodiode array. As the hydrometeor moves through the sample volume, this optical array records the moving shape and a two-dimensional picture can be recorded. At an air speed of 100 m/s, the sample volume is 310 l/s. The recorded images can be analyzed for size distributions, number concentrations, and further cloud properties detailed below. Hydrometeors in the range of 0.3−19.2 mm can be fully recorded at a 150 μm resolution; larger particles can only be sized along the direction of flight. In order to keep the pixel resolution along the flight path constant, the system clock frequency is adjusted according to the detected True Air Speed (TAS) by the data system itself. The maximum clock frequency for the HVPS is 240 kHz. The HVPS data recorded during this project has 400 m m resolution along the flight path.

The 2D-C/P Hydrometeor Imaging Probe (2D-C/P) is an in situ, airborne instrument that captures imagery of hydrometeors. It collects these images by recording the status (illuminated or shadowed) of the photodiode array as the shadow of the hydrometeors passes over. 2D-C/P also provides measurements of particle size distribution, cloud droplet concentration, and hydrometeor shape. Typically, 2D-C/P probes have an image resolution of 25 micrometers and can image hydrometeors with diameters up to 1600 micrometers.

The Airborne Coherent Lidar for Advanced In-Flight Measurements (ACLAIM) is a remotely active lidar system that was built by Coherent Technologies, Inc. It was developed to detect and provide warning of clear air turbulence to improve aviation safety. ACLAIM measures lidar backscatter at a wavelength of 2 microns and operates at 100 pulses per second. ACLAIM was developed as part of NASA’s Aviation Safety Program.

A dropsondes or dropwindsondes are in situ instruments designed to be released from aircraft. They are equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers and sensors to collect profile measurements of pressure, temperature, humidity, wind speed, and direction. Dropsondes are important during field investigations because they allow researchers to collect vertical profiles in remote locations and during severe weather events. Dropsondes typically have a vertical resolution of 5 m and provide measurements of wind speed/direction every 0.25 seconds and temperature, pressure, and humidity every 0.5 seconds.

The Cloud Particle Imager (CPI) is an airborne imager manufactured by SPEC Inc. CPI collects high-resolution (2.3 μm pixel size) images of cloud particles that pass through its sample volume. It uses a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera that operates at 810 nm to record images and can take up to 74 frames per second with a refresh rate of 40 Hz. The imagery from CPI can be used to derive microphysical properties such as particle size and habit.

The Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe (FSSP) is an in situ airborne optical particle counter originally designed by Particle Measuring Systems, Inc. It provides particle size distribution by measuring the intensity of the light scattered by individual particles within the cloud. FSSP can detect particles within a diameter range of 0.5 to 47 μm. It operates at a wavelength of 633 nm and has a typical sampling frequency of 1 Hz.

The JPL Laser Hygrometer (JLH) is an in situ airborne hygrometer developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It uses a tunable diode laser that operates at 1.37 μm to measure atmospheric water vapor in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. JLH has a minimum spatial resolution of 25 m and a detection range of 1 to 500 ppmv. It has a typical sampling rate of 1 Hz and can provide measurements at a precision of 0.05 ppmv.

The Airborne Second Generation Precipitation Radar (APR-2) is a cross-track scanning, dual-frequency airborne precipitation radar. It measures radar backscatter from rainfall to provide measurements of reflectivity, Doppler velocity, and linear depolarization ratio (LDR). APR-2 operates at 13.4 GHz and 35.6 GHz and has a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of 5000 Hz. At a flight altitude of 11,000 feet, it has a horizontal resolution of 730 m at 13.4 GHz and 920 m at 35.6 GHz. APR-2 has a vertical resolution of 60 m and a ground swath width of 10 km.

The Lidar Atmospheric Sensing Experiment (LASE) is an airborne lidar system developed at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). LASE uses the differential absorption lidar technique to provide profile measurements of water vapor and aerosols in the atmosphere. LASE operates at the 815 nm wavelength and has a measurement frequency of 5 Hz. For aerosol scattering profiles, LASE has a horizontal resolution of 200m and a vertical resolution of 30m. It has a horizontal resolution of 5 km and a vertical resolution of 0.2 km for water vapor measurements.

The Meteorological Measurement System (MMS) is an in situ airborne instrument used for measuring atmospheric state parameters. MMS provides high-resolution and accurate measurements of atmospheric pressure, temperature, and wind direction/speed immediately around the plane. Additional parameters can be derived such as potential temperature, true airspeed, turbulence dissipation rate, and Reynolds number. Measurements of all parameters are typically collected at a rate of 20 Hz.