This ongoing study explores variability in the vertical thermodynamic structure of the atmosphere, in particular differences in atmospheric soundings taken in close proximity in time and/or space, as well as special atmosphere features (clouds and aerosol) that can locally alter thermodynamic profiles.

Our cases are clear-air aircraft soundings acquired during special field campaigns: Ice in Clouds Experiment – Tropical (ICE-T) and Instrument Development and Education in Airborne Science (IDEAS). Both projects used the C130 aircraft to measure atmospheric thermodynamic and wind profiles, as well as clouds and aerosol layers. Eight research flights over the Caribbean ocean from ICE-T were used to explore variability seen during a given day, as well as across different days. Cloud humidity halos and the influence of aerosol layers were also investigated. These cases are contrasted with IDEAS aircraft soundings taken over Colorado and Wyoming to look at aerosol and cloud influences, and also compared to the local National Weather Service soundings launched daily out of Boulder, CO.

The present study was conducted as part of a new junior-level, research-oriented laboratory at Purdue University in the Atmospheric Science program.