From 05 June until 21 July 2014 a joint atmospheric research project, Deepwave, will be conducted in the skies above and around New Zealand. The aim is to gain better understanding of gravity waves, a potential benefit to aviation meteorology and forecasting.
For more on the project scope, check out the website https://www.eol.ucar.edu/field_projects/deepwave
Recent news articles:
Two research aircraft will operate mainly south of Christchurch but also occasionally as far north as Bay of Plenty, south to the Antarctic, west to Australia, and eastward to Chatham Islands.
The United States National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) will conduct approximately 22 long transect flights with Gulfstream 5 N677F at altitudes generally above 40000ft. Each 8 to 9 hour flight will include the use of an airborne research laser and radio drop sondes. The research laster will be projected upward from the aircraft and may be visible. The drop sondes weigh approximately 160 grams and will descend on a parachute over about a 13 minutes to reach the surface. Flight operations will generally commence around 1930 and conclude 0430 the next morning.
The German Aerospace Centre (DLR) will conduct 15 to 18 box-pattern measurement operations in an area approximately between Christchurch and Dunedin using a Falcon 20E-5 aptly registered D-CMET. Flights will generally operate between 27000ft and 35000ft and range between 3.5 and 4 hours in duration both day and night.
In addition to the aircraft, radiosonde balloons will be released from Lauder, Central Otago and Hokitika Airport.
N677F most recently visited our region three years ago with an arrival at Rarotonga 25 August 2011 from Kona. Onto Christchurch arriving on the 28th then flying a research flight to 67 south and back on the 30th. Back to Rarotonga 02 September then to Kona two days later.
The aircraft is due to arrive into Christchurch today.
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| N677F at Rarotonga 23 June 2011, E Smith photo |
