Articles | Volume 18, issue 17
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-4325-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-4325-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
09 Sep 2025
Research article |
| 09 Sep 2025
| 09 Sep 2025
Intercomparison of wind speed, temperature, and humidity data between dropsondes and aircraft in situ measurements
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Sanja Dmitrovic
James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Gao Chen
NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681, USA
Yonghoon Choi
NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681, USA
Analytical Mechanics Associates, Hampton, VA 23666, USA
Ewan Crosbie
NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681, USA
Analytical Mechanics Associates, Hampton, VA 23666, USA
Joshua P. DiGangi
NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681, USA
Glenn S. Diskin
NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681, USA
Richard A. Ferrare
NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681, USA
Johnathan W. Hair
NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681, USA
Simon Kirschler
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, German Aerospace Center, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
John B. Nowak
NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681, USA
Kenneth L. Thornhill
NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681, USA
Analytical Mechanics Associates, Hampton, VA 23666, USA
Christiane Voigt
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, German Aerospace Center, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
Holger Vömel
National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO 30301, USA
Xubin Zeng
Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Armin Sorooshian
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Data sets
Aerosol Cloud meTeorology Interactions oVer the western ATlantic Experiment NASA/LaRC/SD/ASDC https://doi.org/10.5067/SUBORBITAL/ACTIVATE/DATA001
Short summary
We conducted this study to assess the accuracy of airborne measurements of wind, temperature, and humidity, essential for understanding atmospheric processes. Using data from NASA's ACTIVATE campaign, we compared measurements from the Turbulent Air Motion Measurement System (TAMMS) and diode laser hygrometer (DLH) aboard a Falcon aircraft with dropsondes from a King Air, matching data points based on location and time using statistical methods. The study showed strong agreement, confirming the reliability of these methods for advancing climate models.
We conducted this study to assess the accuracy of airborne measurements of wind, temperature,...
