GIFTS EDU Validation
UW-SSEC/CIMSS AERIbago

Date:  11 Sept 2006 (Monday)
Crew: DeSlover, Smith, Taylor  (Larar)
Author: DeSlover, Larar
http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/gifts/edu/

	Weather Conditions:

Clear.

	Instrument Analysis

All instruments operated nominally.  GIFTS sky data was acquired in segments between 1150 and
1256 UTC (see Science Discussion).  AERI-05 data is questionable through the entire GIFTS moon
tracking experiment (MTE) as they frequently walked into the path to check the mirror configuration.
The -05 data acquired during the sky view after the MTE (1230 UTC) is good.

Sonde (1) 1143 UTC

Vaisala Temperature Probe Readings:

1145 UTC
AERI-05			38.8% RH,	20.4 C
Midpoint to mirror	36.1% RH,	21.1 C
Mirror			43.8% RH,	19.1 C
AERIbago		55.0% RH,	15.2 C

	Science Discussion

Activities began at 0930 UTC with preparation for lunar view testing.  The first order of business was to
quantify a known drift in the tracking system to ensure offsets would not exceed specified levels; specifically,
tracking drifts are desired to not exceed 1/2 pixel during an individual interferogram scan.  After locking the scan
mirror on the moon, a tracking test was run at 1005 UTC that demonstrated a tracking drift of 0.18 pixels /
scan.  Since the tracking drift specification requirement was satisfied, effort started toward performing the Moon
Tracking Experiment (MTE).  The calibration sequence was run at 1108 UTC, followed by a radiosonde release and
the start of moon tracking at 1143.  At 1150 UTC, after performing 25 MTE scans, the scan mirror lock position on
the moon was reset to keep the lunar image near FPA center in the presence of tracking drift.  After completion of
25 more MTE scans, another calibration sequence was run at 1206 UTC, resulting in MTE test completion at 1221
UTC.  Our plan was to move right into the Moon Viewing Experiment (MVE), however, at 1225 UTC the moon
view became partially-obstructed by part of the SDL building.  Alternatively, as was done Sunday morning, we
recorded some zenith sky-view data for boundary layer characterization; these 25 high-resolution interferometer
scans were completed at 1256 UTC (6:56 AM local).

Plan for tomorrow, Tuesday, September 12 is to show up at 3:30 AM and start science testing at (or shortly after) 4
AM (local).  The remaining lunar view tests, i.e., MVE & MSE will be attempted.

Bill has requested that GIFTS do an 8 minute sky data sample after every event in an effort to obtain
a number of zenith views which can be compared against the AERI data.