Multicenter Airborne Coherent Atmospheric Wind Sensor (MACAWS)
[NOAA] J.N. Howell, R.M. Hardesty, R.M. Banta, H.D. Johnson (CIRES), L.D. Olivier, A.M. Weickmann (CIRES), K.R. Healy (CIRES) and K.W. Koenig (STC)

Purpose: To modify the NOAA CO2 Transverse Excitation Atmospheric Pressure (TEA) Doppler Lidar instrument for operation in an aircraft and utilize its unique capabilities to perform unprecedented 3-D wind field mapping.
History: more than ten years of proven operation as a ground-based instrument.
[Figure i] [Figure ii] [Figure iii]
The Next Step: Collaborative effort with NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to install the lidar on an airborne platform.
[Figure 1] [Advantages] [Figure 2] [Science Flights] [Figure 3] [Applications]
Outcome: Better understanding of small-scale dynamic processes in the planetary boundary layer and near the tropopause, which will ultimately lead to more accurate forecast models.
[Figure 4] [Figure 5] [Figure 6]
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Future Missions:
 
CAMEX III (Convection and Moisture Experiment) August/September 1998
Purpose: Gain a better understanding of hurricane track, intensification, and genesis.

MAP (Mesoscale Alpine Programme) [Proposed] 1999
Purpose: Complex flow study of the European Alps.

Commerce / NOAA / OAR / ERL / ETL / Review /
Multicenter Airborne Coherent Atmospheric Wind Sensor (MACAWS)