IN-SITU WATER VAPOR MEASUREMENTS IN STRATOSPHERIC AIRCRAFT FLIGHTS

An aluminum oxide hygrometer developed by NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center was flown on board the Climatic Impact Assessment Program (CIAP) RB-57 aircraft. The instrument was designed to measure the ambient water vapor in-situ. The sensors and electronics were mounted in the nose of the aircraft and the analog data from the electronics were recorded by the aircraft flight recorder system along with inertial navigation data. Data from flights from January 1974 to May 1974 were processed and compiled to form a 500 point data base. From this data base, water vapor as a function of time, latitude, longitude, or altitude can be retrieved. The data from the LACATE comparison flights and the rocket plume penetration flights are presented. A pseudo-meridional cross section of water vapor between 40,000 feet and 60,000 feet from 50 degrees N to 50 degrees S latitudes has been constructed from the data base. The cross section shows water vapor mixing ratios between one and nine microgram per gram with hemispheric asymmetry of wet and dry regions. The wetter regions appear over the intertropical convergence zone and at mid to high latitudes.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored in part by Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C. Climatic Impact Assessment Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Goddard Space Flight Center

  National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  Greenbelt, MD  United States  20770

  Department of Transportation

  Climatic Impact Assessment Program, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Hilsenrath, E
  • Guenther, B
• Publication Date: 1975-5

Media Info

• Pagination: 51 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aluminum oxide; Correlation analysis; Flight tests; Hygrometers; Information processing; Mixing; Stratosphere; Test procedures; Water vapor
• Subject Areas: Construction; Data and Information Technology; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00092390
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Rpt.
• Files: NTIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 5 1976 12:00AM