NOAA Twin Otter at Mammoth Lakes

NOAA Twin Otter at Mammoth Lakes

NOAA Twin Otter Crew

NOAA Twin Otter Crew

CalNex 2010 - NOAA Twin Otter Data

The NOAA Twin Otter participated in the CalNex 2010 study from 16 May - 19 July 2010 based in Ontario, CA and the Central Valley. The Twin Otter was equipped with the TOPAZ ozone and aerosol lidar, the CU Boulder AMAX-DOAS system, and the University of Leeds Doppler wind lidar. Scientific objectives of the NOAA Twin Otter flights include the investigation of the distribution and horizontal and vertical transport of O3, NO2, and aerosols in the Los Angeles Basin and Central Valley, transport of pollutants between air basins in California, and comparison of NO2 AMAX-DOAS measurements with OMI and SCHIAMACHY satellite data.

Data from 15 July flight
Google Earth data image from 15 July 2010

Update from the field

On 29 June, the NOAA Twin Otter returned to Ontario for the final 3 weeks of the CalNex campaign. After a double header flight over the California - Mexico border area and a well deserved hard down day, the Twin Otter will be sampling the LA Basin, Mojave Desert, Imperial Valley, and possibly the southern San Joaquin Valley areas over the next couple of days. The next maintenance period is scheduled for 7 - 11 July. Flight operations will resume on 12 July and the transit back to Boulder is planned for 19 July.

Check the NOAA Twin Otter Daily Plan for updates during the project.