Dresden 2011 – scientific programme
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UP: Fachverband Umweltphysik
UP 1: Poster Session
UP 1.22: Poster
Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 18:30–20:30, P2
Water vapouR ANalyzer (WARAN): compact airborne hygrometer for the upper troposphere — •Stefan Kaufmann1,2, Christiane Voigt1,2, Christian Mallaun1, Martin Wirth1, Andreas Minikin1, Alexander Friedrich1, Dominik Schäuble1, Klaus Gierens1, Hans Schlager1, and Ulrich Schumann1 — 1Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, DLR Oberpfaffenhofen — 2Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, Universität Mainz
Numerical weather prediction and climate models require a broad set of atmospheric measurement data to stick close to reality. While important meteorological data like e.g. temperature are provided by commercial aircraft connected to the AMDAR network (Aircraft Meteorological DAta Relay), humidity data of the upper troposphere are rare. In order to evaluate the suitability of humidity sensors to be integrated in the AMDAR network, we tested the WARAN (WAter vapoR ANalyzer) tuneable diode laser (TDL) hygrometer (WVSS-II from Spectrasensors Inc.) in the laboratory and on the Falcon 20E research aircraft with a Rosemount inlet system. Atmospheric water vapour measurements with the WARAN on the Falcon covering a range from less than 20 to 20000 ppmv are compared to the aircraft meteorological instrumentation. In addition, we show results from an intercomparison to humidity data with the LIDAR (light detection and ranging) instrument onboard the new German research aircraft HALO. In particular, we investigate the humidity in cirrus clouds and in cloud free conditions. The results suggest that the WARAN can provide reliable humidity data from ground level up to the upper troposphere.