The Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) was a NASA field investigation that aimed to better understand how tropical cyclones form and intensify into major hurricanes. GRIP had one deployment in August-September 2010 over the Tropical Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, eastern North Pacific, and Caribbean Sea. NASA DC-8, WB-57, and Global Hawk were equipped with in situ and remote sensors to observe and characterize the lifecycle of tropical storms. GRIP supported NASA's Hurricane Science and TRMM missions.
2010-08-15 — 2010-09-25
Tropical Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Eastern North Pacific, Caribbean Sea
The Cloud Droplet Probe (CDP) is an in situ cloud probe manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It measures the particle size distribution and concentration for cloud particles in the 2-50 μm size range. CDP detects pulses of light scattered from a laser (658 nm) to count and size individual cloud droplets. CDP has a typical measurement rate of 1 Hz and can detect concentrations of up to 2000 particles per cubic centimeter.
The Optical Particle Counter is an instrument based on the principle of light scattering from particles. It is a real time instrument that is typically used to measure particles above 0.05 μm in diameter.
The Precipitation and Imaging Probe (PIP) is an airborne optical spectrometer manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It measures the size and shape of particles in the size range of 100-6200 μm. It provides 2-dimensional imagery with a pixel resolution of 100 μm. PIP operates at the 660 nm wavelength and has a typical sampling frequency of 1 second. It has a sample area of 260 mm x 6.2 mm and can operate at airspeeds of 10-200 meters per second.
The Cloud Aerosol and Precipitation Spectrometer (CAPS) is an in situ airborne spectrometer manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It combines the Cloud Imaging Probe (CIP), the Cloud and Aerosol Spectrometer (CAS), and the Hotwire Liquid Water Content (LWC) Sensor into one instrument. CAPS measures the size distribution of aerosol, cloud, and liquid droplets for particles between the sizes of 50-1600 μm at a time resolution of 1 Hz. It can also record images of cloud particles and provide measurements of temperature, pressure, and LWC.
The Ultra-High Sensitivity Aerosol Spectrometer (UHSAS) is an in situ spectrometer manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It can be utilized on both airborne and ground-based platforms to measure aerosol size distribution and concentration. UHSAS determines the particle size by detecting the peak light signals of the aerosol particles which are illuminated by a 1054 nm laser. UHSAS can sample particles within the 60 - 1000 nm size range and has a sampling frequency of 10 Hz.
The Condensation Nuclei Counter (CNC) is optical method for
counting atmospheric aerosol particles.
Earth Science > >
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.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature
The Doppler Aerosol WiNd Lidar (DAWN) is an active remote, airborne lidar developed by NASA Langley Research Center. DAWN uses a pulsed, solid-state laser that operates at a wavelength of 2 micrometers to detect aerosol backscatter in the atmosphere. DAWN can also provide vertical profiles of the horizontal winds below the aircraft and the line of sight winds at each azimuth angle. Typically, DAWN provides profiles at a resolution of 60 m and emits a pulse at a rate of 10 Hz.
The Langley Aerosol Research Group Experiment (LARGE) is an in situ airborne instrument suite that measures aerosol and cloud microphysical and optical properties such as size distribution, number concentration, and scattering and absorption coefficient. LARGE consists of multiple instruments including the Ultra-High Sensitivity Aerosol Spectrometer (UHSAS), Particle-Into-Liquid Sampler (PILS), Particle Soot Absorption Photometer (PSAP), Cloud and Aerosol Spectrometer (CAS), Cloud Imaging Probe (CIP), and additional cloud and aerosol sensors. The LARGE instruments operate across the 450-700 nm wavelength range, can detect particles in the size range between 0.003-20μm, and have a measurement frequency of 1 Hz. It is typically used for airborne measurements, but it also can be deployed on ground-based platforms such as vehicles.
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.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Profiles
The Cloud Spectrometer and Impactor (CSI) is an in situ airborne probe that measures total condensed water (TCW) content in clouds. It consists of a combination of a counterflow virtual impactor (CVI) and a lightweight cloud droplet probe. It can measure cloud particles in the size range of 2 to 50 μm and has a typical sampling frequency of 1 second.
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.
Nephelometers are in situ airborne or ground-based optical sensors. They measure the total scattering and backscattering of aerosol particles in the atmosphere. Nephelometers operate across three wavelengths: 450 nm, 550 nm, and 700 nm, and have a typical time resolution of 1 Hz.
The Hurricane Imaging Radiometer (HIRAD) is an airborne imaging, single-pol passive C-band radiometer. It measures brightness temperature, which is used to determine rain rate and wind speed. HIRAD operates at four frequencies (4, 5, 6, and 6.6 GHz) and has a typical spatial resolution of 1-3 km. HIRAD’s design is built upon the Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR), with the addition of wide-swath measurement capabilities.
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%.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Electricity > Electric Field
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.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Humidity > Absolute Humidity
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Humidity > Relative Humidity
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Microwave > Brightness Temperature
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Upper Air Temperature
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Total Precipitable Water
The High-Altitude Wind and Rain Airborne Profiler (HIWRAP) is an airborne Ka- and Ku-band, dual-beam Doppler radar system. It measures radar reflectivity and 3-D wind fields within clouds and precipitation making it ideal for research missions into hurricanes and severe storms. It was designed to operate at higher altitudes (~ 20 km) than previous airborne wind profilers allowing for a better vertical profile of the troposphere. HIWRAP has a range resolution of 150 m and operates at the following frequencies: 13.5 GHz, 13.9 GHz, 33.7 GHz, and 35.6 GHz.
Radiosondes are a balloon-borne instrument package used to collect profile measurements of pressure, temperature, humidity, and winds. These sensors are connected to a radio transmitter that sends the measurements to a ground receiver typically operating in the 400-406 MHz range. They typically provide measurements at 1-6 seconds, depending on the type and manufacturer of the radiosonde. Radiosondes are used for weather forecasting, ground truth satellite data, atmospheric research, and input for weather prediction models.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Profiles
