SPLASH

PSL and CIRES designed and built the ASFS to be a moveable instrument system able to power and maintain itself for an extended period of time. It collects atmospheric data that measures all components of the surface energy budget – the exchange of energy between land and atmosphere. By analyzing these measurements, researchers can gain insight into both local and regional weather and climate systems. Learn more

PSL and CIRES are installing an ASSIST-II, which is a self-calibrating infrared emission spectroradiometer that allows remote operation, and is used to monitor atmospheric phenomena. It produces high-accuracy atmospheric profiles of various components, such as temperature, moisture, Ozone, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide, and more.

GML, PSL and CIRES are installing ceilometers at Kettle Ponds and Roaring Judy, which are active sensor lidars that emit an eye-safe laser pulse and measure the laser signal as it scatters off aerosols and clouds across the troposphere. These ”backscatter” measurements are analyzed to identify cloud fraction and cloud base heights, and to estimate the planetary boundary layer height.

NSSL is installing the CLAMPS trailer, which is home to three main instruments: a Doppler lidar that sticks out of the roof, a microwave radiometer that pokes out through the side, and an atmospheric emitted radiance interferometer (AERI) that pushes out through the back. The Doppler lidar uses a non-visible laser to measure horizontal and vertical wind speed at high resolution in the lowest parts of the atmosphere. The AERI and microwave radiometer are both passive sensors, meaning they only “listen” for signals. Both instruments measure downwelling radiance from the atmosphere, which is used to retrieve high resolution profiles of temperature and moisture. CLAMPS also has a surface meteorology station to measure the weather conditions right at the surface.

PSL and CIRES are installing disdrometers, which are optical instruments mounted on a tripod that use a laser to measure the size and fall speed of precipitation particles – such as raindrops, snowflakes, or hail – that fall through the laser beam.

ARL is installing a 10-meter (33-foot) micrometeorological tower and 3-meter tripod tower at the Kettle Ponds field site. The 10-meter tower is equipped at three levels with instruments that measure wind speed and direction and air temperature. A system at the top of the tower provides observations of turbulence, and the exchange of both heat (or energy) and carbon between the land and atmosphere. One arm has sensors that measure incoming and outgoing long and shortwave and visible radiation, as well as sensors that observe surface temperature. Ground instruments include probes that can detect soil moisture and temperature at various depths between 2-50 cm. The tripod tower has instruments that observe the same variables as the 10-m tower. The tripod is also equipped with sensors to measure snow temperature and density every 10 cm.

PSL and CIRES are installing a Radiometrics MP-3000A microwave radiometer at the Roaring Judy field site. This instrument is a passive all-weather atmospheric monitoring system designed to provide continuous real-time profiles of thermodynamic and liquid properties.

PSL and CIRES are installing two Snow Level Radars, which are vertically pointing radars that transmit a continuous beam of energy and receive backscattered energy from clouds, precipitation, and atmospheric turbulence. The returned signals from precipitation are used to estimate the level in the atmosphere where snow melts and becomes rain, aka, the snow level.

GML and CIRES are installing two surface radiation systems to measure the exchange of radiative energy between the atmosphere and the land. These systems consist of several radiometers that passively observe radiation emitted and/or reflected from the atmosphere and the land surface. The radiometers measure radiation at different wavelengths from different directions. Scientists analyze these measurements and derive information on sun, cloud, and surface conditions.

HELiX: PSL and CIRES will operate this this rotary-wing aircraft equipped with stabilized up- and downward looking pyranometers. These sensors measure the incident solar energy and when used together they can provide information on the reflectivity of the surface. The downward looking gimbal also includes a multispectral camera that can be used to document snow cover, dust on snow events, and soil and plant properties.

RAAVEN: CIRES/PSL and CU IRISS will operate this fixed-wing aircraft equipped with the NOAA PSL miniFlux instrumentation. It is set up to measure temperature, pressure, humidity, winds, turbulence and surface/sky temperatures. It can fly for up to two hours at a time and will provide profiles that are assimilated into experimental high-resolution models that target micro- and meso-scale phenomena.

S2: This fixed-wing aircraft is equipped with an L-band radiometer to make measurements of soil moisture. It also carries meteorological sensors and a multispectral camera to document thermodynamic state and winds as well as image the surface and evaluate plant health. It will be operated by Black Swift Technologies, conducting flight patterns prescribed by CIRES/PSL.

PSL and CIRA have installed an X-band scanning radar, which detects both liquid and solid precipitation in the atmosphere. During SPLASH, it will be used to determine the type of precipitation – such as raindrops, snow, and graupel – as well as the amount that is falling in a region around the radar. Since there will be a complementary X-band deployed as part of SAIL, the observations from the SPLASH and SAIL radars can be combined to identify the wind patterns in the clouds. Both the precipitation and the wind observations will be used to evaluate forecasts from NOAA’s High Resolution Rapid Refresh model.