KA-20251003a

KA-20251003a#

ec_under mpc melt_layer precip multi marine_sc

Crew#

Job

Name

PI

Tim Carlsen

Instrument operator

Sorin Ghemulet

Instrument operator

Robert Oscar David

EarthCARE target scenarios

Melting layer: Porpoising through melting layer over ocean.
Rain: Precipitating clouds over ocean.
Marine Sc: Vertical profiles including drizzle.
Complex multi-layer scenes: Multiple low cloud decks.

Flight summary

During the research flight on 3rd October 2025, we targeted mixed-phase clouds, and specifically the melting layer between 0.9 and 4.0 km altitude underneath EarthCARE (orbit #7665C). We performed porpoising through the melting layer, covering temperatures between -5°C and +6°C and sampling liquid droplets, ice crystals, drizzle, rain and snow. It was a very complex multi-layer scene, so it was hard to say when we were in cloud and when it was just high humidity soup around us. Thus, we also performed some cloud layer hunting, flying some short straight legs when we caught a cloud layer.

Track#

../_images/KA-20251003a_7665C.png

Flight track for KA-20251003a.#

Flight path (dashed line) superimposed on the MSI-RGR-1C product on 3rd October 2025. The ATLID ground track is shown in yellow, while the EC leg (for correlative observations) is shown as a continuous line.

Conditions#

During the EC leg we measured in mixed-phase cloud conditions, sampling liquid droplets, ice crystals, snow and rain. However, it was a very complex multi-layer situation, and we performed porpoising and cloud deck hunting. We porpoised through the melting layer again, sampling in temperatures between -5°C and 6°C.

Flight video#

Video cutting and editing in progress…

Events#

Time (UTC)

Comment

12:25

Takeoff Kiruna

13:43

Start ec_leg

13:57

EarthCARE overpass (orbit #7665C)

14:20

End ec_leg

15:21

Landing Kiruna

Execution#

  • Takeoff KRN: 12:25 UTC (14:25 LT)

  • slight delay due to printout of flight documents

  • 13:05 UTC: planning to arrive @FL150 @WP1, ETA 13:41 UTC

  • 13:15 UTC: start descent

  • 13:25 UTC: can go max down to FL050 (helicopter in area)

  • 13:34 UTC: descent towards FL150

  • 13:40 UTC: WP1, turn around to go South, going to FL120

  • 13:41 UTC: descent 1000 ft/min, descent towards FL050

  • 13:43 UTC: Start ec_leg

  • 13:46 UTC: WPA

  • 13:57 UTC: start descending again

  • 14:08 UTC: climb towards FL070

  • 14:16 UTC: towards FL130

  • 14:20 UTC: WP2: going home, End ec_leg

  • 14:57 UTC: Instruments stopped (only low clouds ahead), cameras stop

  • 14:58 UTC: data transfer completed

  • Landing KRN: 15:21 UTC (17:21 LT)

Impressions#

  • 12:31 UTC: Hawkeye up, anti-ice on

  • 12:34 UTC: all cameras on

  • 13:04 UTC: in cloud, FL270, -34°C

  • 13:05 UTC: plates

  • 13:11 UTC: -33°C

  • 13:20 UTC: TAS226, -17°C, FL200

  • 13:21 UTC: TAS222, -15°C, FL190

  • 13:24 UTC: TAS212

  • 13:25 UTC: Bullet rosettes, nothing on FCDP

  • 13:32 UTC: we are in a soup, all cameras go

  • 13:38 UTC: TAS213, -9°C, FL150

  • 13:39 UTC: 2DS-H sees ice, TAS190, -7°C, FL140

  • 13:41 UTC: TAS199

  • 13:43 UTC: TAS194, -3°C, FL110

  • 13:44 UTC: TAS191, -2°C, FL100

  • 13:45 UTC: FCDP sees a bit, a bit in between cloud decks

  • 13:46 UTC: ice on 2DS-H

  • 13:46 UTC: TAS183, 1°C, FL081

  • 13:47 UTC: TAS175

  • 13:48 UTC: TAS173, 2°C, FL061, not much on instruments

  • 13:49 UTC: TAS170, 4°C, FL050, clear below

  • 13:50 UTC: TAS170, 4°C, FL040

  • 13:51 UTC: TAS178, 6°C, FL030

  • 13:53 UTC: TAS174

  • 13:54 UTC: TAS176, 3°C, FL060

  • 13:54 UTC: TAS177, 2°C, FL070

  • 13:56 UTC: TAS185, 0°C, FL090

  • 13:57 UTC: TAS184, -1°C, FL100

  • 13:59 UTC: TAS188, 1°C, FL080

  • 14:00 UTC: TAS181, 3°C, FL060, some particles in FCDP

  • 14:02 UTC: TAS177, 4°C, FL050

  • 14:03 UTC: now in cloud, TAS175, 6°C, FL040

  • 14:04 UTC: back up to FL040 to catch cloud

  • 14:05 UTC: in cloud again, stay at this altitude, TAS186, 6°C, FL037, lots of data now

  • 14:06 UTC: clearing up, climb

  • 14:07 UTC: TAS172, in cloud again

  • 14:08 UTC: TAS170, 5°C, FL050

  • 14:10 UTC: TAS175, 3°C, FL060, ice/snow in 2DS-V

  • 14:11 UTC: out of cloud, climb to FL090, TAS179, 3°C

  • 14:12 UTC: TAS180, 3°C, FL080

  • 14:13 UTC: further up towards FL120, out of cloud again

  • 14:14 UTC: TAS188, 1°C, FL100, a little in FCDP

  • 14:15 UTC: TAS192, -1°C, FL110

  • 14:16 UTC: still out of cloud

  • 14:17 UTC: alt capture, stay here as in cloud, TAS200, -4°C, FL127

  • 14:18 UTC: TAS203, -5°C, FL130, right in cloud again

  • 14:19 UTC: -5°C, FL130, some ice and small droplets

  • 14:20 UTC: cameras worked all the time

  • 14:21 UTC: getting out of cloud

  • 14:21 UTC: some big ice crystals, seeder-feeder

  • 14:24 UTC: big ice falling from above (see photo)

  • 14:28 UTC: still some ice from time to time

  • 14:29 UTC: TAS214, small ice, columns, some bullet rosettes

  • 14:31 UTC: TAS220, -25°C, FL237

  • 14:33 UTC: TAS224, -28°C, FL250

  • 14:35 UTC: TAS225, -28°C, FL250, in cloud

  • 14:36 UTC: lots of ice, TAS222

  • 14:39 UTC: FL250 again ice, TAS225

  • 14:49 UTC: TAS234

  • 14:53 UTC: TAS230, ice from time to time

Instrument status & quicklooks#

Instrument

Operational

Comment

FCDP

✅

None

2D-S

✅

None

CPI

❌

camera connection issue

CAS-DPOL

❌

CAPS computer failure

CIP

❌

CAPS computer failure

LWC Hotwire

❌

CAPS computer failure

Gopros

✅

None

Cloud situation at 14:21 UTC right after the end of the EC leg.

Quicklook live-view of large ice crystal falling from above at 14:24 UTC.

Contents