Summary of NCAR Queen Air Measurements Beneath Cumuli in CCOPE

Research objectives and operational procedures are reviewed, and a description is given of the type and size of clouds observed. A statement of data quality is followed by an account of the analysis approach used in computing cloud-base height, horizontal dimensions and averages of meteorological variables beneath clouds and beyond their vertical boundaries.

Some specific examples of the subcloud measurements are used to introduce a statistical summary of the general physical characteristics near the base of cumuli in southeastern Montana. Tabulations of the specific conditions measured on each of 305 individual subcloud passes are included in an appendix with cloud locator maps and narrative summaries of each Queen Air earlystorm flight mission.