EAGER: Preliminary Work for the Development of the Next-Generation Storm-Penetrating Aircraft

通过特殊仪器的风暴穿透飞机（SPA）直接现场观测仍然是描述和理解发生在强雷暴和其他强烈和危及生命的天气现象深处的复杂过程的重要手段。自2005年南达科他州矿业技术学院（SDSMT） T-28 SPA退役以来，NSF一直在积极探索用更现代化的平台替代它，该平台具有更大的续航力、有效载荷能力和高度范围。这种下一代SPA将能够处理T-28可以探索的范围更广的强烈天气现象。目前，仙童a -10（目前由国防部使用）是这一替代的主要候选人。在采购之前，必须完成对这个能力更强的平台可能遇到的一系列条件的更完整和定量的评估。领导这项工作的基于sdsmt的首席研究员在分析T-28数据方面有相当多的经验，并将负责对这些存档观测数据进行全面的统计描述，并结合辅助数据集（包括气球载观测数据、现有研究飞机在更高高度运行的数据和模型模拟输出），以指定影响飞机安全、飞行性能的气象条件。以及对专用气象仪器的要求。需要检查的数量包括湍流强度、上升气流/下降气流速度、过冷液态水浓度（以及各自对飞机结冰的影响）、雷击机身的可能性/强度。这一分析不仅将解决严重的大陆雷暴（T-28通常在那里操作），还将扩展到发展中的热带风暴，在中纬度和极纬度的冬季风暴系统中的带电云，以及所谓的“火积雨云”在活跃的森林火灾中发展。这项提前工作将有助于最大限度地减少新SPA一旦采购后在任务准备方面的延误。这项工作将与CIRPAS（位于加利福尼亚州蒙特雷的跨学科遥控飞机研究中心）的科学家和工程师协调完成，A-10将在那里采购。更广泛的影响：本研究的最终目的是更好地描述控制强烈风暴行为的极端气象条件和过程，这些风暴对生命和财产构成威胁。更广泛的影响将扩展到对大气科学研究生的培训/指导，以及改进SDSMT云微物理/动力学和中尺度气象学课程中使用的课程材料。

Direct in-situ observations by specially instrumented storm penetrating aircraft (SPA) remain a vital means of describing and understanding complex processes occurring deep within severe thunderstorms and other intense and life-threatening weather phenomena. Since the retirement of the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (SDSMT) T-28 SPA in 2005, NSF has been actively exploring its replacement with a more modern platform possessing expanded endurance, payload capacity and altitude range. This next-generation SPA will be capable of addressing a far broader range of intense weather phenomena that could be explored by the T-28. At present, a Fairchild A-10 (as currently utilized by the Department of Defense) is a leading candidate for this replacement. Preparatory to its procurement, a more complete and quantitative assessment of the range of conditions likely to be encountered by this more capable platform must be completed.The SDSMT-based Principal Investigator leading this effort has considerable prior experience in analysis of T-28 data and will be responsible for comprehensive statistical description of those archived observations in conjunction with ancillary datasets (including balloon-borne observations, data from existing research aircraft operating at higher altitudes, and model simulation output) needed to specify meteorological conditions impacting aircraft safety, flight performance, and requirements for specialized meteorological instrumentation. Quantities to be examined include turbulence intensity, updraft/downdraft speeds, supercooled liquid water concentrations (and respective impacts on aircraft icing), and likelihood/intensity of lightning strikes to the airframe. This analysis will address not only severe continental thunderstorms, where the T-28 was typically operated, but also extend to developing tropical storms, electrified clouds within winter storm systems at both middle and polar latitudes, and so-called "pyrocumulonimbus" developing over active forest fires. This advance effort will serve to minimize future delays in mission readiness for the new SPA, once procured. This work will be done in coordination with scientists and engineers at CIRPAS (the Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely Piloted Aircraft Studies in Monterey, California), where the A-10 would be based once procured.Broader Impacts:The ultimate purpose of this study is a better description of extreme meteorological conditions and processes governing the behavior of intense storms that are a threat to life and property. Broader impacts will extend to training/mentoring of a graduate student in Atmospheric Sciences and enhancement of course material utilized in SDSMT classes in cloud microphysics/dynamics and mesoscale meteorology.