FLUORESCENCE LYMAN-ALPHA STRATOSPHERIC HYGROMETER (FLASH): APPLICATION ON

BALLOONS AND UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES.
Alexey Lykov, Central Aerological Observatory, Dolgoprudny,

Russia
Denis Efremov, EMERCOM of Russia
Sergey Khaykin, CNRS/INSU, LATMOS-IPSL, Guyancourt, France
Ivan Formanyuk, Central Aerological Observatory, Dolgoprudny, Russia
Vladimir Yushkov, Central Aerological Observatory, Dolgoprudny, Russia
Valeriy Astakhov, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Russia

THE 40TH COSPAR SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY
2-10 August 2014, Moscow, Russia

Moscow, Russia
Stratospheric hygrometer FLASH (FLuorescent Airborne Stratospheric Hygrometer) uses a

fluorescent technique based on the reaction of water molecule dissociation when exposed to radiation of wavelength  = 121.6 nm (L is hydrogen emission) with the formation of excited OH radicals and subsequent reemission in a wavelength range between 306 and 325 nm. For measurements in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere the intensity of fluorescent emission is directly proportional to water vapor mixing ratio.

Modulation 1 kHz

Moscow, Russia
In 1970 – 80 was flying to the 60-80

km by rockets. Descent by parachute from the top of trajectory.
The weight of FLASH was 5 kg. Sealed housing special designed for rocket application.
Last campaign Hygrosonde-2 on 16/12/2001 (Khaplanov M.)

2014, Moscow, Russia

Russia
FLASH-B uncertainty

Moscow, Russia
Max speed: 332 km/h at 5,000 m 743 km/h at 20,000 m Range: 4,965 km
Endurance: 6.5 hours

at 17,000 m Service ceiling: 21,500 m
Time to altitude: 21,000 m in 35 minutes

Flash-M55:
Weight 25 kg
1200mm x D30mm
Power 100 W
Automatic Data logging 3 days

Moscow, Russia
Vertical water vapour profile
Time data set water vapour
Participation

in:
SCOUT 2005
RECONCILE  2011
STRATOCLIM 2015

Russia
The Yak-42D plane laboratory "Roshydromet“
made in 2013 year
Max.Speed: 810 km/h
Range: 4,000 km
Service

seiling: 9,600 m

1 – closing inlet;
2 – heaters; 3 – connectors; 4 – airplane wall;
7- control unit;
8,11 – pressure sensor;
9- vacuum pump;
12 – flow controller;
13 – temperature sensor; 14,16 – power supply;
15 – chamber; 17 - optics; 18 – UV lamp;
20 – FLASH;

FLASH hygrometer onboard

Moscow, Russia
Water vapour and pressure during flight 12.11.2013
Comparison vs

radiosonde at 12.11.2013

Humidity [g/kg]

Pressure [mbar]

Water vapour [ppmv]

Pressure [mbar]

August 2014, Moscow, Russia
Balloon
50 m
Payload
10 m
FLASH
Balloon was flown 2 weeks

at altitude 17-18 km
FLASH works at night time only, 15 min per hour

August 2014, Moscow, Russia
1-st day of flight
5-th day of flight
contamination

August 2014, Moscow, Russia
Launch site: Esrange Space Center
Launch date: July 2013
Mass/kg: ~2 tons
Balloon

size:  1,2 Mm³
Height:    ~39 km 
Duration: ~15 days
Targets: the Crab (nebula and pulsar) and Cygnus X-1

FLASH FOW is 40 deg must be placed between maximum Solar Elevation Angle (SEA) and balloon in order to avoid over exposure reflected light.

ASSEMBLY
2-10 August 2014, Moscow, Russia
At daytime the FLASH looks

to the Sun direction, as a Polarimeter. There is over exposure condition.
At night time they turn back. There measuring cond.

Russia
“Night time”
data
5 ppmv
Noise
3 ppmv
“Daytime” data is over exposure.

2014, Moscow, Russia
FLASH
COBALD
10 km
Skywalker X-8 FPV
Wingspan: 2,12 m Cruise speeds
80-90 kph.

Max weight: 4 kg
Payload: 1,5 kg
Range: 50 km
Flight video:
http://nearspace.ru/?page_id=258

Distance 30 km

2014, Moscow, Russia

for missile applications, FLASH hygrometer has been modified for a

variety of platforms:
Very light weight version for rubber meteo ballons for night flights;
Small gondola for stratosphere aircraft M55 fixing under wing;
Big rack module for tropospheric airborne laboratory YAK42-Roshydromet;
He has been modied for stratospheric long-duration CNES and SSC Esrange balloons;
FLASH was adapted for use onboard Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV);
Nearest future:
FLASH adapting for use with balloon
and GPS-guided paraglide.