Hawkeye – Cloud Particle Combination Instrument

Combination Instrument
Fast Cloud Droplet Probe, Cloud Particle Imager and a Dual Optical Array Probe

Four-in-One Combination Instrument Provides the Most Comprehensive Cloud Sampling Available

Hawkeye integrates four complementary probes into one combination instrument, merging higher resolution, photographic imagery with scattering and OAP optical array imaging technologies. This probe combination is unrivaled in the atmospheric science industry.

Originally developed for NASA’s Global Hawk, the Hawkeye cloud particle combination instrument now flies on multiple research platforms.

Features

• Four-in-One Combination Instrument
  • Fast Cloud Droplet Probe to determine cloud droplet distributions and concentrations
  • Cloud Particle Imager for high-resolution images, distinguishes cloud drops from small ice crystals
  • Dual OAP probes provide accurate cloud particle size distributions
• High-resolution images of particle shape and habit
• Integrated design reduces ice-crystal shattering artifacts
• Proven performance on research aircraft worldwide
• Post-processing tools for morphology and artifact filtering

Applications

• Cirrus, mixed-phase and supercooled cloud research
• Ice particle growth and aggregation research
• Validation of remote sensing measurements, i.e. satellite and radar
• Multi-scale sampling of cloud and precipitation particles
• Water cloud microphysics
• Droplet size distribution studies in drizzle and ice conditions
• Research on droplet formation and evaporation

Details

• FCDP
  • 1.5 – 50µm size range
• CPI – 2.3 µm/pixel photographic CMOS-based imager
  • 7 – 2000µm size range
  • 2.3µm resolution
• 2D-S – channel 1, photo-diode based imager
  • 10 – 1280µm+ size range
  • 10µm resolution
• 2D-S – channel 2, photo-diode based imager
  • 50 – 6400µm+ size range
  • 50µm resolution
• 1 Gbps Ethernet interface
• 1TB onboard storage
• Hermetically sealed