Further Performance Tests on the CSIRO Liquid Water Probe

Abstract

A further 400 h of flying experience with the CSIRO hot-wire probe has shown that it can accurately measure liquid water content in clouds. Computations and experiments suggest that when an epoxy coating is used for protection, it should be less than 50 μm thick, and that the wire should be operated around 160°C when such coatings are used. Comparisons of performance with the Axially Scattering Spectrometer Probe and in a wet wind tunnel indicate that splashing of drops up to 40 μm diameter is not a problem at speeds up to 80 m s−1.