TC4

The NASA TC4 (Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling) mission will investigate the structure, properties and processes in the tropical Eastern Pacific. A-train satellite observations provide crucial information on the spatial and temporal variations of this region, however, carefully planned TC4 aircraft observations are required, both to validate satellite data and to provide critical observations not available from the satellites. High altitude aircraft will collect tropopause data while the medium altitude aircraft will provide profiles and structure measurements of the tropical upper troposphere and lower stratosphere.