RESEARCH AVIATION FACILITY

SUMMARY

The mission and goals of the Research Aviation Facility (RAF)

can be summarized as:

(1) To serve the atmospheric science community be providing

research aircraft support for airborne measurements.

(2) To be responsive to the needs of the atmospheric science

community regarding improvements in:

(a) measurement capability,

(b) quality of measurements, and

(c) data processing procedures which will more fully serve

the scientific users of the Facility.

The basic aircraft support services of RAF are provided to the

atmospheric sciences community through participation with research

aircraft in a wide variety of programs which may be on one hand

comparatively simple university or NCAR research projects, or may be

complex national or multi-national programs, for example MONEX, GATE,

or JASIN. These services are supplied with four NSF-owned instrumented

research aircraft: two Queen Airs, a twin-jet Sabreliner and a four-

engine turboprop Electra, All four of these aircraft are equipped

with sophisticated data recording systems. Capability improvements

continue in the areas of (1) data recording and processing, (2) particle

and bulk water measurements, (3) air motion and navigation systems,

(4) indirect sensing of clouds, true altitude and air speed, (5) air

and precipitation-chemistry, (6) atmospheric gas and particulate

sampling, and (7) cloud physics.

NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC BALLOON FACILITY

SUMMARY

The mission and goals of the NSBF are to provide the scientific

community with the most efficient and reliable balloon operational

support possible within the state-of-the-art and also to conduct the

research and development necessary to continue to advance that state-

of-the-art to meet the growing and changing requirements of the

scientific community.

The NSBF supports a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines

including atmospheric science. The use of large balloons as observation

platforms in atmospheric measurement programs has increased significantly

in the past two years and it is anticipated that support in this area

will reach 30% of our effort during 1978.

A major effort of the NSBF over the past two years has been the

continuing development of a balloon and data retrieval system for

long duration flights on the order of 60 to 90 days. These flights

will operate initially in the Southern Hemisphere at an altitude of

30 km and carry payloads of approximately 250 kg.

The NSBF now provides most of the scientific balloon support for

the free world. Minor programs, mostly limited to small balloons,

are conducted by several other countries, but the majority of the

scientific community looks to the NSBF for support, particularly for

the larger or more complicated flights.

The summary of NSBF support of the scientific ballooning community

during FY'77 is as follows:

a. Total flights for FY 1977 63

b. Flight support for the various scientific

disciplines, for research and development,

and for training were apportioned as follows:

Atmospheric Sciences 15

Astronomy 21

Cosmic Ray Physics 14

Research & Development 9

Training 4

Total - 63

c. Flight support by NSBF was performed

with launch sites at Palestine, Texas

and at remote launch locations:

Palestine Flights 48

Remote Site Flights

Page, Arizona 1

Australia 1

Aberdeen, South Dakota 6

Malden, Missouri 2

Grenada, Mississippi 1

New Zealand 3

Pierre, South Dakota 1

Total Remote Flights - 15

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d. Of the total FY'77 flights by NSBF, forty-seven flights

were flown for United States, fifteen flights were flown for

foreign national, one flight was a joint U.S.-foreign effort.

Most flights were in direct support of university scientific

programs, in FY'77 service was to 14 U.S. universities,

13 flights to foreign universities. A total of 51 scientists

were served — 35 U.S. scientists, 16 foreign scientists.

e. During the period of NSBF operation from January 1977 through

May 1978, a total of seventy-five scientific flights have

been flown (as distinct from developmental, testing and

training flights). The following listing shows the diversity

of scientists and organizations supported by these flights

together with the field of investigations of the respective

researcher.

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SCIENTIST/ORGANIZATION FIELD OF INVESTIGATION

J. Aikin, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center J. Ainsworth, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center J. Anderson, University of Michigan A. Buffington, University of Calif., BerkeleyE. Chupp, University of New Hampshire A. Clark, University of Calgary, CanadaA. Dean, Univ. of Southampton, United Kingdom W.F.J. Evans, Atmospheric Environment Services,

CanadaN. Farlow, NASA Ames Research CenterC. Farmer, Jet Propulsion LaboratoryG. Fazio, Smithsonian/Harvard Observatory J. Fishman, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center P. Fowler, Bristol Univ., United Kingdom L. Friling, University of New Hampshire G. Frye, Case Western Reserve University R. Golden, NASA Johnson Space Center R. Haymes, Rice University L. Heidt, National Center for Atmospheric

ResearchW. Hoffman, Max-Planck Institute, Germany W. Hoffman, University of Arizona M. Israel, Washington University J. Jennings, University College London, England T. Kamperman, University of Utrecht, The

Netherlands L. Koch, Danish Space Research Institute Y. Kondo, Goddard Space Flight Center J. Kurfess, Naval Research LaboratoryD. Lemke, Max-Planck Institute, Germany M. Leventhal, Bell Labs/Sandia LabsW. Lewin, Massachusetts Institute of Technology J. Lockwood, University of New Hampshire J. Lord, University of WashingtonF. Low, University of ArizonaN. Lund, Danish Space Research Center, DenmarkE. Maier, NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterP. Marsden, University of Leeds, United Kingdom J. McBride, University of California, BerkeleyC. Meegan, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center L. Megill, Utah State UniversityR. Menzies, Jet Propulsion LaboratoryD. Murcray, University of DenverJ. Nishimura, University of Tokyo, JapanC. Orth, University of California, Berkeley L. Orwig, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center M. Pelling, University of California, San DiegoB. Peters, Danish Space Research Center, Denmark

Atmospheric Sciences Atmospheric Sciences Atmospheric Sciences High Energy Cosmic Ray Gamma Ray Astronomy Far Infrared Low Energy X-Ray

Atmospheric Sciences Atmospheric Sciences Infrared Astronomy Infrared Astronomy X-Ray Astronomy Cosmic Ray Gamma Ray Cosmic Ray Cosmic Ray Gamma Ray

Atmospheric Sciences Infrared Astronomy Far Infrared Astronomy Cosmic RayInfrared Observations

Ultra VioletCosmic RayUltra VioletX-Ray AstronomyFar Infrared AstronomyGamma RayX-RayNeutron/Gamma Ray Cosmic Ray Infrared Astronomy Cosmic RayStratospheric Composition Cosmic Ray Infrared Science X-RayX-Ray, Cosmic Ray Ionization/ozoneAtmospheric SciencesAtmospheric SciencesHigh Energy ElectronsCosmic RayX-RayX-Ray/Infrared Astronomy Cosmic Ray

iContivLUtd , )

- 4 -

A. Potter, NASA Johnson Space CenterP. Richards, University of California, BerkeleyG. Ricker, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyW. Schlosser, Ruhr University, GermanyV. Schoenfelder, Max-Planck Institute, GermanyS. Scott, NASA Ames Research CenterL. Sidwell, Jet Propulsion LaboratoryJ. Stanley, NASA Johnson Space CenterR. Staubert, Astronomisches Institute, GermanyE. Stone, California Institute of TechnologyJ. Vedder, NASA Ames Research CenterG. Villa, University of Milan, ItalyR. Vogt, California Institute of TechnologyJ. Waddington, University of MinnesotaD. Wilkinson, Princeton UniversityR. Williamson, Utah State UniversityD. Woody, University of California, Berkeley

Atmospheric Science Infrared Astronomy X-RayPhotographic U-V Studies/X-RayGamma Ray AstronomyStratospheric Aerosols & GasesSolar Cell StandardsAtmospheric SciencesX-Ray AstronomyCosmic RayAtmospheric ScienceGamma RayCosmic RayCosmic RayCosmic BackgroundX-RayCosmic Ray

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COMPUTING FACILITYSUMMARY

The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is operated by a consortium of 45 universities under sponsorship of the National Science Foundation. NCAR's missions are to plan and carry out coop­erative programs on critical atmospheric problems where the time, people, and resources required are beyond the capability of a univer­sity department; and to extend the capabilities of individual univer­sity research groups by providing research facilities too extensive for a single university to acquire or maintain. These missions, plus the nature of the atmosphere itself, lead inevitably to the need for very large computers.

Objectives of the NCAR Computing Facility

• The facility's principal objectives are to provide capabilities for:

- developing and running large numerical models;

- processing very large data sets and using them with the models.

• These capabilities are provided to:

- large national and international atmospheric research programs in which NCAR and university scientists are participating;

- other joint research efforts among NCAR and university scientists;

- independent research projects of NCAR and university scientists, servicing the latter when they are visitors to NCAR and, through remote terminals, when they are at their home campuses.

Examples of Scientific Objectives Dependent Upon NCAR Computing Facility Support

Using Large Numerical Models (characterized by ^ 10 x 109 calcula­tions/case) :

• Global atmospheric circulation models. GCM's are used by NCAR's Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) Project for short-range fore­casting and by NCAR's Climate Project in collaboration with many university groups for longer term climate studies. The NWP Project is one of NCAR's interfaces to the Global Atmospheric Research international Global Weather Experiment being conducted in 1978-79.

• Modeling of severe storms and cumulonimbus modeling. Important to NCAR's Convective Storms Division, Aerosol Project, and Mesoscale Project as well as to university investigators in Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Illinois; these models are amonq the most difficult and challenging to construct for NCAR's CDC 7600 and Cray-1 computers.

\- 2 -

• Solar and astrophysical models. The High Altitude Observatory (HAO), a division of NCAR, has invested considerable effort in modeling the solar dynamo and differential rotation of the sun, an important element in studying the variability of the solar constant.

Processing Very Large Data Sets (characterized by ^ 109 numbers):

Data sets produced by satellites:

t SMS-1: photographs of the GATE area. 2400 magnetic tapes* of data from the Synchronous Meteorological Satellite have been processed by investigators from Colorado State University to create an 84- tape data set restricted to the area of 19741 s international Atlantic Tropical Experiment. This limited data set is being studied by several groups of investigators at CSU and other universities.

• SKYLAB: photographs of the solar corona. The detailed study of 35,000 photographs (875 magnetic tapes) of the solar corona by scientists at HAO and cooperating universities has led to a major revision of theories for describing coronal dynamics.

• NCAR and university investigators have had or will have experiments on the 0S0-8, Nimbus-6, Nimbus-G, and Solar Maximum Mission satel­lites.

Data sets produced by aircraft:

• NCAR's Research Aviation Facility (RAF). The RAF with its four in­strumented aircraft produces approximately 500 tapes of processed data each year, 80% of it for university investigators.

Computing Facility Support for NCAR and University Atmospheric ScienceResearch

Augmentation of the Computing Facility's Hardware and Software Capabilities (1975-1981):

• Cray-1 Computer. A substantial increase in computing power has been obtained with a Cray-1 computer becoming operational 1 December 1977. This computer has a 12.5 nanosecond cycle time, 8 x 106 bytes memory and 4.8 x 109 byte disk storage system. Cray Research, Inc. supplies the software for the system: a multi-programming batch operating system and a FORTRAN compiler.

• Ampex TMS-4 Mass Storage System. A videotape-based mass storage system with an on-line capacity of 40 x 109 bytes (expanding to 60 x 109 in 1979) is in operational use. Data set management functions are handled by a minicomputer utilizing Ampex Corpora­tion software. This system provides a significant increase in the Computing Facility's ability to process very large data sets.

*0ne tape can hold up to 5 x 106 numbers (equivalent to 40 10s bytes or 320 106 bits).

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• Front-end system. This is a distributed minicomputer system to be deployed between 1977 and 1981 which provides the interface between the user and the central computing facility. Manufacturer-supplied software in these minicomputers is human engineered to provide efficient and effective tools for the development and testing of large programs, the preprocessing of data, and the analysis and dis­play of computational results and processed data.

• CDC 7600. Significant software development is being carried on to expand the 7600's data set management capabilities and to integrate the 7600 operating system with the Ampex TBM, the Cray-1, and the front-end system.

A diagram of the overall Computing Facility configuration appears onthe next page, with a key to acronyms on the following page.

Computing Facility User Statistics for FY 1977

• 197 university users from 65 institutions.

• 69 joint university-NCAR users from 34 institutions.

t 292 NCAR users.

t Remote job entry terminals located at 48 universities.

• 337,000 jobs run on the NCAR system.

• 4,000 CDC 7600 central processor hours accumulated (100% capacity).

For further information, please contact:

G. S. Patterson, Jr., Manager Computing FacilityNational Center for Atmospheric ResearchP.O. Box 3000Boulder, Colorado 80307

U N IVER S IT IES

AMPEX TERABIT MEMORY SYSTEM

CRAY-1

NCAR

0 CIU

DC

TD

DTM

EQUIPMENT IN PLACE BY END OF PHASE I!

FRONT END SUBSYSTEM S CONFIG URED THROUGH PHASE II!

(Table o f acronyms appears on next page)

-5-

Acronyms Referenced on Computing Facility

System Diagram

CF Computing Facility

CIU Channel Interface Unit (MSS)

COM Computer Output Microfilm (FES)

DC Data Channel (MSS)

DTM Dual Transport Module (MSS)

FES Front End System

GT Graphics Terminal (FES)

HAO High Altitude Observatory

I/O Input/Output Interface (FES)

Mesa Mesa Laboratory

MSS Mass Storage System

NCC Network Control Computer

NWP Numerical Weather Prediction Project

RDSS Radar Data Support System (FES)

RJE Remote Job Entry System (FES)

SC Satellite Computer (FES)

TD Transport Driver (MSS)

FIELD OBSERVING FACILITY

SUMMARY

The mission of the Field Observing Facility (FOF) is to provide

surface-based measurements for the atmospheric sciences in support of

experimental meteorological programs throughout the United States and

occasionally around the world. In meeting its mission requirements,

FOF engages in the following major activities.

(1) Operation of advanced remote- and immersion-sensing systems

to support the research of atmospheric scientists in universities

and NCAR.

(2) Development of new measurement systems, in cooperation with

the Research Systems Facility, to meet the needs of atmospheric

science.

(3) Development of operational and analytical techniques for

optimum use of its facilities, and transfer of these techniques

to the atmospheric sciences community. These techniques

include instrument deployment, data collection methodologies,

software development for data processing and methods for

displaying data.

Although FOF's charter is broad, emphasis in recent years has been

directed at support to mesoscale and boundary-layer meteorology in

accordance with the growing national scientific interests in convective

storms, winter cyclonic storms, boundary layer processes, and air

pollution as it is coupled to boundary layer turbulence, transport,

and diffusion.

CAPABILITIES

The instrumentation system capabilities developed by the Field

Observing Facility for the support of the atmospheric sciences include

the following:

A. Two 5 cm Doppler Radars

1. Uses - For measurements of winds, turbulence, and precipitation

structure in convective storms, stratiform rain and snow. Also

may be used to measure air motion in chaff clouds and occasionally

in clear air under favorable conditions.

2. Features

• Digital Processors

• Real-Time Color Display

• Computer Compatible Magnetic Tape Recording

• Replay and Display

• Software for Processing Data

B. Portable Automated Mesonetwork (PAM)

1. Uses - For surface measurements of winds, temperature, humidity,

pressure, rainfall rate and other variables.

2. Features

• 30 microprocessor controlled, battery powered remote data

gathering stations.

• Telemetry of data to central base station

9 50-80km range from base station (terrain dependent)

• Radio repeater

• Real-time displays

• 22 hours storage on disc

• Permanent storage on computer compatible tape

• Replay and display

• Software for processing data- 2 -

C. Lidar

1. Uses - For studies of tropospheric and stratospheric aerosol

loading and rates of decay.

2. Features

• 5 Joule ruby laser

• 50 ns pulse

• Digital recording

• Software for processing data

D. Two Boundary Profile Systems

1. Uses - For measuring profiles of temperature, humidity, and

winds in the boundary layer up to 700 m.

2. Features

• Tethered balloon

• Telemetered data transmission

• Cassette tape recording

• Software for processing data

E. Four Rawinsonde Systems, 2 GMD's, 2 Weathermeasures

1. Uses - For measuring profiles of winds, temperature and humidity

in the troposphere and lower stratosphere.

2. Features

• Automatic tracking

F. Mechanical Chart Recording Weather Stations

1. Uses - For surface measurements of winds, temperature,

humidity, pressure.

2. Features

• Paper chart records

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G. Wind Tunnel

1. Uses - For calibration and testing of anemometers

2. Features

• Speed control to 28 m/s

• Some wind function control - square waves and ramps

H. Environmental Chamber

1. Uses - For calibration and testing of instruments

2. Features

• Computer control of temperature, pressure and humidity

• Computer printouts of chamber parameters

All FOF facilities, except the wind tunnel and chamber, are transportable

for use anywhere in the country.

FY 77 PROGRAMS SUPPORTED

The Field Observing Facility supported seven major programs in

FY 77. The following listing reviews the scientific user and organization

and gives a brief outline of the nature of program support provided.

During FY 1977 virtually all of FOF's support was to university scientists.

A. Srivastava, University of Chicago

One Doppler radar was used on the south shore of Lake Michigan

and with the CHILL (University of Chicago-Illinois State Water

Survey) radar formed a dual Doppler pair for studies of winter snow

storms.

B. Stephens and Ray, Florida State University and NSSL (NOAA National

Severe Storms Laboratory)

One Doppler radar and the PAM system were used in Oklahoma as

part of the 1977 NSSL pring network for study of severe tornado

producing storms.

- 4 -

C. Lhermitte, University of Miami

One Doppler radar was used with two of Lhermitte's to form a triple

Doppler array for study of lightning producing convective storms

as part of the Thunderstorm Research International Project (Florida).

D. Cotton, Colorado State University

One Doppler radar, PAM, rawinsonde and boundary profile support was

provided for study of convective storm development and propagation

in the region of South Park, Colorado.

E. Hobbs, University of Washington

One Doppler radar was provided for study of winter cyclonic storms

(Washington coast)

F. Fernald, Denver Research Institute

Periodic lidar observations of stratospheric aerosols

G. In addition FOF lent a variety of mechanical chart recording stations

rain gages, theodolites, cameras, etc. to about 20 university investi­

gators on a first-come, first-served basis.

FY 78 PROGRAMS SUPPORTED

A similar (and in two cases, a continuing) set of major program

involvements have been supported by FOF through summer 1978:

A. Hobbs - Similar to 1977

B. Grant, Colorado State University

PAM system for winter time study of mountain air flow.

C. Marwitz, University of Wyoming

One Doppler radar for study of winter time storms on west slope

of Sierras. Formed triple Doppler network with two NOAA radars.

D. Businger, University of Washington

PAM System at the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory (BAO) for study

of terrain effects on the boundary layer.

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E. Fujita and Srivastava, University of Chicago

Two Doppler radars, PAM, rawinsonde in Illinois for study of severe

thunderstorm downbursts.

F. Lhermitte, University of Miami

Similar to FY 1977 support.

G. Hildebrand, Illinois State Water Survey

One Doppler radar and PAM will be used at the Boulder Atmospheric

Observatory with BAO tower, NOAA Dopplers, NCAR aircraft and other

instruments to study the convective boundary layer.

H. Squires, NCAR

Operate rawinsonde and CP-2 radar for CSD field experiment in

northeast Colorado. Test video tape recorder on CP-2 Doppler

data.

In FY 1978 mostofFOF's support was to universities. The Sierra

and BAO experiments can be considered joint NCAR-University-other agency

experiments but the principal scientist in each case is a university

scientist. The CSD support was to NCAR.

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DEMAND FOR FOF SERVICES AND SERVICES SUPPORTED BY FOF

(FY 1977 and 1978)

In FY 1977 no requests were refused, although many dates and

periods for support were compromised. The NOAA Wave Propagation

Laboratory (WPL) Doppler radars were used for the Colorado State

University South Park Area Cumulus Experiment (SPACE) with one

NCAR Doppler radar. It is fortunate that this was possible since

both the Thunderstorm Research International Project in Florida

and SPACE would have suffered if FOF had tried to meet both commit­

ments fully.

At the October 1977 meeting of the FOF Advisory Panel there were

six requests for radar support with three of the requests asking

for two radars. Thus there were nine radar-experiment requests.

Four requests for radar had to be refused. Those that received

support had their schedules compromised and it was necessary again

to use WPL radars in two requested experiments (University of

Wyoming radar support in the Sierra Project and University of

Florida/National Severe Storms Laboratory radar support in Project

SESAME). There were seven requests for PAM, three were refused

and schedules were compromised. FOF in retrospect feels it was,

even so, overcommitted and that possible four of these requests

should have been refused.

At the April 1978 meeting of the FOF Advisory Panel, there were

six radar-experiment requests. One was refused, winter MONEX

was questionable, and the University of Washington CYCLES and

SESAME programs requied schedule compromises. Again FOF may

better have refused both the winter and summer MONEX requests.

There were four requests for PAM with one refusal ^nd schedule

compromises were necessary, There were requests for nine rawinsonde-

experiments. Seven of these were granted but schedules were

shortened.

In summary, in the past two years, there have been 21 (6 in 1977)

radar-experiment requests., 15 were granted. Better support would

have resulted if one more request could have been denied. There

were also 13 (2 in FY 1977) PAM requests and 9 were granted,

again in this area of support, FOF was seriously overcommitted.