Journal Article

FZJ-2015-06600

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Evaluation of the MOZAIC Capacitive Hygrometer during the airborne field study CIRRUS-III

Neis, P. (Corresponding author)FZJ* ; Smit, H. G. J.FZJ* ; Krämer, M.FZJ* ; Spelten, N.FZJ* ; Petzold, A.FZJ*

2015
Copernicus Katlenburg-Lindau

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/9424  doi:10.5194/amt-8-1233-2015

Abstract: The MOZAIC Capacitive Hygrometer (MCH) is usually operated aboard passenger aircraft in the framework of MOZAIC (Measurement of Ozone by Airbus In-Service Aircraft) for measuring atmospheric relative humidity (RH). In order to evaluate the performance of the MCH, the instrument was operated aboard a Learjet 35A research aircraft as part of the CIRRUS-III field study together with a closed-cell Lyman-α fluorescence hygrometer (Fast in situ Stratospheric Hygrometer, or FISH) and an open-path tunable diode laser system (Open-path Jülich Stratospheric TDL ExpeRiment, or OJSTER) for water vapour measurement. After reducing the CIRRUS-III data set to data corresponding to MOZAIC aircraft operation conditions, the 1 Hz RH data cross correlation between the MCH and reference instruments FISH (clear sky) and OJSTER (in-cirrus) yielded a remarkably good agreement of R2 = 0.92 and slope m = 1.02 and provided a MCH uncertainty of 5% RH. Probability distribution functions of RH deduced from the MCH and reference instruments agreed well between 10 and 70% RH with respect to liquid water in the ambient temperature range of ca. −70 to −40 °C. The use of MCH data is limited to sensor temperatures above the calibration limit of Tsensor = −40 °C (corresponds to ambient temperature of Tambient = −70 °C at typical cruising speed of long-haul passenger aircraft). Good performance of the MCH for clear sky as well as for in-cirrus conditions demonstrated the sensor robustness also for operation inside ice clouds.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Troposphäre (IEK-8)
2. Stratosphäre (IEK-7)

Research Program(s):

1. 243 - Tropospheric trace substances and their transformation processes (POF3-243) (POF3-243)
2. HITEC - Helmholtz Interdisciplinary Doctoral Training in Energy and Climate Research (HITEC) (HITEC-20170406) (HITEC-20170406)

Appears in the scientific report 2015

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Database coverage:
; ; ; ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Thomson Reuters Master Journal List ; Web of Science Core Collection

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