ANASPHERE, INC — National Aeronautics and Space Administration SBIR Phase I: S1

Description

<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in">Radiative transfer properties of clouds play an important role in the energy balance of the Earth.&nbsp; Numerous NASA programs and experiments are directed to measuring these effects.&nbsp; In-situ measurements are critical for supporting satellite-borne instruments.&nbsp; While research aircraft carry the best in-situ instruments, the aircraft and instruments are too expensive to provide sufficient coverage.&nbsp; Anasphere is developing a suite of low-cost, balloon-borne instruments that can quantify all three condensed phases of water in clouds: supercooled liquid, liquid, and ice.&nbsp; The first two instruments have been developed and are used around the world.&nbsp; This project is directed to developing the ice water content (IWC) sensor to complete the trio.&nbsp; Addition of an IWC sensor will yield a suite of instruments that can be used for measurements of all cloud types including mixed-phase clouds.&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In Phase I, an IWC sensor which is a derivative of the preceding successful instruments will be developed.&nbsp; This will entail the development of a suitable ice collection medium and associated calibration equations.&nbsp; Supporting work to be completed will include optimizing Anasphere&rsquo;s icing wind tunnel for pure ice particle conditions.&nbsp; Phase I will conclude with the new IWC sensor being operated in the icing wind tunnel.&nbsp;</p>