SONEX CTC Page
Improved Retrieval Algorithm as of 980608
All the CTCs on this page were last replaced on 980608 to reflect a number
of refinements to our data processing, the primary one being the incorporation
of a new retrieval algorithm that is better able to handle anomolous situations
such as that which occurred on the transit flight from CA to ME on 981013
when tropical air was encountered on the east coast at high latitudes.
On this particular occasion the MTP tropopause altitude had been too low
because mid-latitude retrieval coefficients had been used; the new algorithm
corrects this deficiency. It also improves the quality of the tropopause
solutions on other CTCs, for example, the test flight on 981007. Click
here to see the old image for this flight and notice how much
better the trop is behaved in the new
image for this flight. Since the aircraft was 4 km below the
tropopause, the old solution had considerable scatter. The new algorithm
removed this scatter completely, and found a tropopause solution that agrees
extremely well with the one found when the aircraft was within 1 km of
the tropopause. The new MPyymmdd.DA1 files have been submitted to CLOUD1
as to 980609.
Click on the SONEX calendar date to examine
an enlarged (800x600) GIF image of the thumbnail. The enlarged GIF images
range in size from 30 to 50 kb. The number below each image is the DC8
flight number, NOT the calendar date! This is provided to simply life for
those who work in that co-ordinate system. The GIF images here are the
same as those in the FTP directory.
WARNING
These images are presented here only
as an aid for other scientists to understand their SONEX data. It may not
be used for any other purpose, or referred to, without written permission
from either MJ Mahoney or Bruce Gary of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
For more information, go here.
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