The Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry (DC3) research project is focused on understanding the effect of big thunderstorms on the composition of the upper troposphere. These tall convective storms move surface-level air to the level of the anvil and generate lightning, which alters air chemistry. The project is based in a hanger at the Salina municipal airport. The Salina airport saw service in World War II, training pilots in the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, and B-29 Superfortress. One old Liberator Lockheed Constellation holds a position of honor at the airport, raised on pedestals to the north. During the fifties and sixties, the Salina airport became a Strategic Air Command site as Schilling AFB and supported the six-engine B-47s. The supersonic B-1 Lancers would perform exercises at the local (conventional) bombing range. Both aircraft were designed to threaten our cold war adversary with nuclear bombardment. The bombing range is still maintained by the Air National Guard, and a couple of A-10 Warthogs were flying over town this week.
The airport boasts a 12,000-foot runway, a great view of the sky, and some fine historic structures. Our 'tornado shelter' was clearly built to withstand nuclear blasts. This old brick and steel hanger is particularly nice. When the opposite hanger doors are open, looking through the windows gives the distinct visual impression that windows are in fact mirrors, reflecting the sky and buildings behind the observer.
During the campaign, the NCAR Gulfstream V (corporate jet type) and NASA DC-8 (airliner type) aircraft conduct flights to thunderstorms in Colorado, Oklahoma, and Alabama. The 'total water' instrument that I work on is mounted on a pylon under the left wing of the GV. It ingests cloud droplets through a long, forward facing inlet, vaporizes them in heated plumbing, and uses laser absorption to measure the water vapor concentration that results. Flying out in a wing canister, the instrument is exposed to vibration and the low temperatures and pressures of the upper troposphere.
The photos that follow show the sleek GV, with its under-wing instrument canisters. The skin of the aircraft is pierced by numerous sensors and inlets--these can be spotted if one clicks to enlarge the photos. Measurements of solar radiation are made from the top of the tail, where the horizon is uninterrupted. Inside the cabin, rows of metal instrument racks have replaced most of the seating. One photo shows a scientific behemoth, the impressive NASA DC8. This enormous aircraft is truly filled with instrumentation, and it is a humbling experience to walk down the center aisle during the pre-flight hours and observe dozens of scientists in their earnest preparations.
