Adaptation of microphysical and chemical instrumentation to the airborne measuring platform Iljushin I1-18 ‘Cyclone’ and flight regime planning during the Arctic Haze investigation 1993–1995

Abstract

In 1993 the joint Russian-German Research Project ‘Arctic Haze’ started (see the Introduction and editorial note of this issue, by Jaenicke, Khattatov, Jaeschke and Leiterer). Besides CAO, four German groups were involved. To the present three airborne measuring campaigns have been performed. In total 251 h of flight within altitudes up to 8.7 km were flown in the western and eastern part of the arctic leading to a comprehensive set of data of the northern arctic hemisphere. The measurements were conducted aboard the Russian research aircraft I1-18 ‘Cyclone’ which was used by CAO in numerous scientific projects mainly in the former USSR. This 4 engined turboprop aircraft is well equipped with sensitive thermodynamical, optical and radiometric instrumentation. In consideration of the estimated aspects of ‘Arctic Haze’ additional microphysical, optical, and chemical instrumentation was adapted to the research aircraft. For co-ordinated measurements a detailed flight regime was planned taking into account the special requirements of the groups involved in the project. Main parts of the measurements were performed in box flights designed to get representative information of the investigated area. This allows the comparison of results gained in individual boxes at different locations or at different seasons. This contribution describes the basic equipment of the Russian research aircraft IL-18 as well as the adaptation of the special instrumentation for the ‘Arctic Haze’ investigations.