Fluorescence lyman-alpha stratospheric hygrometer (flash): application on meteorological balloons, long duration balloons

1. FLUORESCENCE LYMAN-ALPHA STRATOSPHERIC HYGROMETER (FLASH): APPLICATION ON METEOROLOGICAL BALLOONS, LONG DURATION BALLOONS AND

THE 40TH COSPAR SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY
2-10 August 2014, Moscow, Russia
FLUORESCENCE LYMAN-ALPHA STRATOSPHERIC
HYGROMETER (FLASH):
APPLICATION ON METEOROLOGICAL BALLOONS,
LONG DURATION BALLOONS AND UNMANNED
AERIAL VEHICLES.
Alexey Lykov,
Denis Efremov,
Sergey Khaykin,
Ivan Formanyuk,
Vladimir Yushkov,
Valeriy Astakhov,
Central Aerological Observatory, Dolgoprudny, Russia
EMERCOM of Russia
CNRS/INSU, LATMOS-IPSL, Guyancourt, France
Central Aerological Observatory, Dolgoprudny, Russia
Central Aerological Observatory, Dolgoprudny, Russia
Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Russia

2. Fluorescent method of measure

THE 40TH COSPAR SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY
2-10 August 2014, Moscow, Russia
Fluorescent method of measure
Stratospheric hygrometer FLASH (FLuorescent
Airborne Stratospheric
Hygrometer) uses a fluorescent technique based on the reaction of water
molecule dissociation when exposed to radiation of wavelength = 121.6 nm
(L is hydrogen emission) with the formation of excited OH radicals and
subsequent reemission in a wavelength range between 306 and 325 nm. For
measurements in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere the intensity
of fluorescent emission is directly proportional to water vapor mixing ratio.
Н(2S)
h
Source of VUV
radiation
=121,6 nm
(Lyman-α)
Н2О
ОН (А2 +)
300 < λ < 330 nm
ОН (Х2П )
Modulation 1 kHz
PMT
I fl

3. Rocket application of FLASH:

THE 40TH COSPAR SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY
2-10 August 2014, Moscow, Russia
Rocket application of FLASH:
In 1970 – 80 was flying to the 60-80
km by rockets. Descent by
parachute from the top of trajectory.
The weight of FLASH was 5 kg.
Sealed housing special designed
for rocket application.
Last campaign Hygrosonde-2 on
16/12/2001 (Khaplanov M.)

4. Meteo balloon application of FLASH-B:

THE 40TH COSPAR SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY
2-10 August 2014, Moscow, Russia
Meteo balloon application of FLASH-B:
Measurement range
Detection limit
Measurement cycle length
Integration time
Vertical resolution
Measurement precision
Total uncertainty
Power consumption
Height range
Weight
0.5...1000 ppmv
0.1 ppmv
1 sec
1 - 4 sec
~ 50 m (descent in UTLS)
5%
<10 % (1σ)
0.5 – 1 W
350… 5 mBar
0.5 kg

5. Calibration facility

THE 40TH COSPAR SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY
2-10 August 2014, Moscow, Russia
Calibration facility
To PC
Air pressure
FLASH-B
flow
controller
flow
controller
Reference
dew point
mirror
hygrometer
Vacuum
chamber
50 mBar
MBW
373L
Compressor
air out
H2O
bubbler
dehumidifier
homogenizer
freezer
P: 3-1000 mBar
T: 190 – 300 K
µ: 1-1000 ppmv
Vacuum
pump

6. Results of flights:

Height, km
THE 40TH COSPAR SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY
2-10 August 2014, Moscow, Russia
Results of flights:
-70
-60
-50
Temperature, deg. C
-40
-30
-20
-10
32
0
10
FLASH-B /SW / SRS flight
06.11.2008
30
28
26
24
22
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
1
10
WVMR, ppmv
FLASH-B uncertainty

7. Stratospheric M55-Geophysica aircraft application:

THE 40TH COSPAR SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY
2-10 August 2014, Moscow, Russia
Stratospheric M55-Geophysica aircraft application:
Flash-M55:
Weight 25 kg
1200mm x D30mm
Power 100 W
Automatic Data
logging 3 days
chamber
inlet
Vacuum
Pump
Power
supply
FLASH
Max speed: 332 km/h at 5,000 m
743 km/h at 20,000 m
Range: 4,965 km
Endurance: 6.5 hours at
17,000 m
Service ceiling: 21,500 m
Time to altitude: 21,000 m in 35
minutes

8. M55-Geophysica aircraft FLASH data:

THE 40TH COSPAR SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY
2-10 August 2014, Moscow, Russia
M55-Geophysica aircraft FLASH data:
18
descent 1
-85
-80
2
17
Temperature, deg. C
-75
-70
-65
-60
-55
-5016
altitude, km
20
19 Nov
FLASH
FISH
7
6
5
23 Nov
FLASH
FISH
4
3
descent 3
15
18
100
descent 2
10
14
7
6
5
13
Altitude, km
water vapour (FLASH)
total water (FISH)
4
3
2
12
Temperature (D1)
Temperature (A1)
Temperature (D2)
16
20
22
UTC, s
24
Time data set water vapour
14
Participation in:
SCOUT 2005
RECONCILE 2011
12
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
water vapour, ppmv
14
16
2
18
20
water vapour/total water, ppmv
Vertical water vapour profile
-90
3
STRATOCLIM 2015
3
26x10

9. Tropospheric YAK42-Roshydromet application:

THE 40TH COSPAR SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY
2-10 August 2014, Moscow, Russia
Tropospheric YAK42-Roshydromet application:
The Yak-42D plane
laboratory "Roshydromet“
made in 2013 year
Max.Speed: 810 km/h
Range: 4,000 km
Service seiling: 9,600 m
FLASH hygrometer onboard
1 – closing inlet;
2 – heaters; 3 – connectors;
4 – airplane wall;
7- control unit;
8,11 – pressure sensor;
9- vacuum pump;
12 – flow controller;
13 – temperature sensor;
14,16 – power supply;
15 – chamber; 17 - optics;
18 – UV lamp;
20 – FLASH;

10. Tropospheric YAK42-Roshydromet FLASH data:

THE 40TH COSPAR SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY
2-10 August 2014, Moscow, Russia
Tropospheric YAK42-Roshydromet FLASH data:
Pressure [mbar]
Humidity [g/kg]
Pressure [mbar]
Comparison vs radiosonde at
12.11.2013
Water vapour [ppmv]
Water vapour and pressure during flight 12.11.2013

11. Long Duration CNES balloon and FLASH:

THE 40TH COSPAR SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY
2-10 August 2014, Moscow, Russia
Long Duration CNES balloon and FLASH:
Balloon was flown 2 weeks at altitude 17-18 km
FLASH works at night time only, 15 min per hour
FLASH-LDB flight from Kiruna
March 2007
18.4
water vapour
Altitude
18.2
18.0
5.5
water vapour MR, ppmv
17.8
Altitude, km
6.0
17.6
5.0
17.4
17.2
Balloon
4.5
50 m
4.0
Payload
10 m
3.5
6
7
8
9
day of March
10
11
12
FLASH

12. Long Duration CNES balloon FLASH data:

THE 40TH COSPAR SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY
2-10 August 2014, Moscow, Russia
Long Duration CNES balloon FLASH data:
1-st day of flight
contamination
5-th day of flight

13. Long Duration PoGoLite balloon and FLASH:

THE 40TH COSPAR SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY
2-10 August 2014, Moscow, Russia
Long Duration PoGoLite balloon and FLASH:
Polar day
SEA 45º
37º
Polar night SEA 5º
FLASH FOW is 40 deg must be
placed between maximum Solar
Elevation Angle (SEA) and
balloon in order to avoid over
exposure reflected light.
Launch site:
Esrange Space
Center
Launch date:
July 2013
Mass/kg:
~2 tons
Balloon size:
1,2 Mm³
Height:
~39 km
Duration:
~15 days
Targets: the Crab (nebula and
pulsar) and Cygnus X-1

14. Long Duration PoGoLite balloon FLASH set up:

THE 40TH COSPAR SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY
2-10 August 2014, Moscow, Russia
Long Duration PoGoLite balloon FLASH set up:
At daytime the FLASH looks to the Sun direction, as
a Polarimeter. There is over exposure condition.
At night time they turn back. There measuring cond.

15. PoGoLite FLASH data:

THE 40TH COSPAR SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY
2-10 August 2014, Moscow, Russia
PoGoLite FLASH data:
“Daytime” data
is over
exposure.
“Night time”
data
5 ppmv
Noise
3 ppmv

16. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) aplication:

THE 40TH COSPAR SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY
2-10 August 2014, Moscow, Russia
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) aplication:
10 km
Distance 30 km
Skywalker X-8 FPV
Wingspan: 2,12 m
Cruise speeds
80-90 kph.
Max weight: 4 kg
Payload: 1,5 kg
Range: 50 km
Flight video:
http://nearspace.ru/
?page_id=258
FLASH
COBALD

17. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) result:

THE 40TH COSPAR SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY
2-10 August 2014, Moscow, Russia
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) result:
-60
-40
Temperature, deg. C
0
20
-20
40
60
80
16
FLASH-B / SRS / Snow White
LUAMI 06.11.2008
ascent
14
12
Height, km
10
FLASH-B
Snow White
CFH
COBALD
Temperature
8
6
4
2
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80RH, %
90
100
0
10
20
30
40
50
x10
3

18. Summary:

THE 40TH COSPAR SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY
2-10 August 2014, Moscow, Russia
Summary:
Is born for missile applications, FLASH hygrometer has been modified for
a variety of platforms:
Very light weight version for rubber meteo ballons for night
flights;
Small gondola for stratosphere aircraft M55 fixing under wing;
Big rack module for tropospheric airborne laboratory YAK42Roshydromet;
He has been modied for stratospheric long-duration CNES and
SSC Esrange balloons;
FLASH was adapted for use onboard Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
(UAV);
Nearest future:
FLASH adapting for use with balloon
and GPS-guided paraglide.