Date of Award

January 2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Atmospheric Sciences

First Advisor

David J. Delene

Abstract

The introduction of the Water Content Measurement probe (WCM-3000) onto the NASA P-3 aircraft during the NASA Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Snowstorms (IMPACTS) 2022 and 2023 field campaign raises opportunity for measurement comparisons between liquid water content instruments. Instrument comparisons are done between the King hot-wire probe, the WCM-3000, and the Cloud Droplet Probe (CDP) using the IMPACTS 2023 field campaign data. Case studies are analyzed in three cloud conditions; liquid water clouds with droplets less than 50 µm, supercooled liquid water clouds with droplets less than 50 µm, and ice phase clouds. The WCM-3000 and King Probe did not agree within measurement uncertainties. Possible WCM-3000 issues are a time-offset, a hysteresis effect and an overdamped control system. Analysis indicates that likely the WCM is overdamped, and discussion is on-going with the manufacturer regarding the WCM performance.

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