UTOPIHAN-ACT campaigns 2002-2004 -flights with Learjet 35A
Upper Tropospheric Ozone: Processes Involving HOx and NOx
The Impact of Aviation and Convectively Transported Pollutants in the Tropopause Region
… is a research project funded within the Fifth Framework programme of the European Community under contract No. EVK2-CT-2001-00099.
The focus of the research program are the first studies of POH oxidation (oxidation of partially oxidised hydrocarbons) at appropriate temperatures and pressures of the upper troposphere, and the first detailed examination of „new“ mechanisms at low temperatures for the reactions of OH with carbonyl compounds.
A key role within the studies plaid airborne field measurements over Europe that provide the first detailed measurements in the upper troposphere for a large suite of POH, other trace gases (e.g. ozone, NO etc.) and radiation, that are necessary for calculation of HOx formation rates.
The Partners
The following theoretically and experimentally working groups are contractors in the project which started 01.01.2002:
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Department of Atmospheric Chemistry, Germany
- CNRS, Laboratoire de Combustion et Systèmes Réactifs, Orléans, France
- Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Division of Physical and Analytical Chemistry, Belgium
- University of Essen, Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Germany (IPTC)
- Crete University, Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Greece
- Eindhoven University of Technology, Center for Classical Theoretical Physics, the Netherlands
- Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, De Bilt, the Netherlands
- University of Cambridge, Department of Chemistry, England
- enviscope GmbH in co-operation with Gesellschaft für Flugzieldarstellung (GFD), Germany
Field Experiments
Within UTOPIHAN-ACT Workpackage 3 “ Field Measurements“ Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry (MPI-C) performed three measuring campaigns using Learjet 35A D-CGFD in co-operation with enviscope and partner GFD. The campaigns took place in spring and summer 2003 with operations starting in Hohn and Oberpfaffenhofen (partly in combination with EU-project Contrace) and in spring 2004, again with flights starting in Hohn near Rendsburg, the homebase of the Learjet.
Ratio payload versus size of aircraft
During the campaigns the Learjet showed his ability to accomodate a respectable set of instruments in a dense package without any handicap for the scientific users.
This capability is mainly based on 3 factors which allow fast integration and good access to scientific instruments at ground without disturbing the other scientific groups:
- large cargo door
- external payload pods
- additional access through emergency exit.
no images were found
This figure gives an impression of the dense packed Learjet 35A D-CGFD used for UTOPIHAN-ACT.
Keep in mind the standard instrumentation not listed
(e.g. p,T,rh,avionic data),
– add together the components,
– and compare the number of variables and quality of the instruments
with scientific payloads of bigger (and more expensive) research aircraft …
For technical details of the instrumentation and the scientific outcome of the project please refer to the homepage of MPI-C.
Thanks …
… to all our friends at MPI-C.
… and to all people of GFD who deserve a merit and a rest when the scientists and enviscope leave Hohn…..
