Final Flights for ARISE

NASA researchers completed two more science flights over the Arctic, collecting valuable data in spite of uncooperative weather.

On the morning of Sept. 21, the ARISE team took off for a survey of sea ice, clouds and solar and thermal energy that targeted an area close to the region flown two days earlier. After takeoff the team found that conditions were too cloudy for one part of the survey, a measurement of sunlight and thermal energy reflecting from the surface that required clear conditions. However, researchers were able to collect sea ice elevation data and study two cloud formations. The first one was on the eastern side of the planned survey area. During the flight, the ARISE ground team spotted the second formation, a deck of low clouds to the north, on satellite and directed the C-130 there.

Researchers returned to the skies on Sept. 24, with a plan to study clouds and atmosphere over solid sea ice north of Alaska. With a forecast calling for low clouds and a lack of high cirrus, the team planned to collect high-altitude data at the same time that satellites passed overhead. But weather had other plans. Fog at Eielson Air Force Base delayed takeoff for a few hours, meaning that the C-130 would miss the first planned set of satellite overpasses. At the same time, cirrus clouds moved into part of the survey area….

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Image Source: NASA