Scientists Prepare for Coming ATTREX Climate Study

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/attrex.html

Scientists Prepare for Coming ATTREX Climate Study

11.08.11

NASA's Global Hawk remotely operated Earth science aircraft No. 872 banks right over Edwards Air Force during a checkout flight. (NASA / Carla Thomas)

A consortium of scientists are in the early stages of preparation for a multi-year airborne science campaign to study the humidity and chemical composition of air entering the tropical tropopause layer of the atmosphere between eight and 11 miles (13 to 18 km) high. NASA's Airborne Tropical Tropopause Experiment, or ATTREX, will conduct this research over the Pacific Ocean from three locations in 2013 and 2014.

Studies have shown that even small changes in stratospheric humidity may have climate impacts that are significant compared to those of decadal increases in greenhouse gases. Predictions of stratospheric humidity changes are uncertain due to gaps in the understanding of the physical processes occurring in the tropical tropopause layer.

Led by principal investigator Eric Jensen and project manager Dave Jordon of NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif., the scientists are integrating instruments onto one of NASA's Global Hawk unmanned aircraft and are verifying their operation during checkout flights from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards, Calif.

Eleven instruments are being installed in equipment racks on Global Hawk No. 872. The instruments were initially tested during an Oct. 20 flight in the restricted area over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

…