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<br />I <br />I <br /> <br />of the DR! mobile radiometer experiments and 87% of the soundings that were <br /> <br />-~.~~_.._,.._.". ~ --- -<,.__._~---.-,,---.-..~ <br /> <br />launched from the Mt. Pleasant Airport. The periods also contain 14 of the 20 <br />- ~.._.._--~-., ~.....- ,~-.-. <br />- ..-~.._-----~~~-->-- ----~_. <br />research aircraft flights documented by Heimbach (1991). Five of the other six <br /> <br />.~,-^,.~-,.,.~^,,~....~~,="""~~~-_'-' .< <br /> <br />flights were either VFR orientation flights or VFR tracking of Ag! plumes. One <br /> <br /> <br />flight on 10 March occurred late in the day as clouds associated with the 11-12 <br /> <br /> <br />March storm event were beginning to move into the research area. <br /> <br /> <br />C. DRI Mobile Radiometer Operations <br />Pre-Field Season Modifications: The DR! dual-frequency microwave radiome- <br /> <br /> <br />ter has been described in earlier reports (e.g., Huggins, 1990a). Prior to the <br /> <br /> <br />1991 field effort the radiometer was outfitted with a portable 6.5 KW power <br /> <br /> <br />generator so that it can be operated in a mobile mode, or in a stationary mode <br /> <br />at a location where no power exists. The generator fuel line was connected to <br /> <br />the fuel supply line of the radiometer truck, enabling the generator to be <br /> <br />operated from the dual fuel tanks of the truck. At a fuel consumption rate of <br /> <br />about 1 gallon per hour, the mobile radiometer can operate in excess of 24 hours <br /> <br />away from commercial power. <br /> <br />The modified radiometer platform appears in Fig. 6. The portable generator <br /> <br />is enclosed in a heat- and sound-insulated compartment which is accessible from <br /> <br />the outside. Conversion from stationary-to-mobi1e, or mobi1e-to-stationary <br /> <br />operation requires about 15 to 20 minutes. Going to stationary mode requires <br /> <br />slightly more time because of the need to carefully orientate and level the <br /> <br />radiometer truck. During mobile operation the rotating antenna assembly is <br /> <br />secured to the roof with the spinning reflector locked to a viewing angle that <br /> <br />is vertical relative to the horizontal plane of the truck axis. An inclinometer <br /> <br />continuously measures the actual antenna elevation angle and this angle is <br /> <br />recorded with every data sample. The data can then be normalized to true <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />9 <br /> <br />