INDOEX-98

The Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX) first field phase was conducted from January 1  through April 1 1998 over the tropical Indian Ocean.  First Field Phase INDOEX is Experiment in it self, as well as support, design and compare data from future INDOEX 1999 project.

 Scientific Objectives

The goals of the FFP are threefold: 

• Collect surface based and satellite based data that can be used to support, design and compare the data that will be collected during the intensive field phase (IFP) of INDOEX (January - April of 1999). 
• Complete as many of the ship and surface based objectives, e.g., column optical depth, column radiative forcing, air-sea interaction processes, etc., as possible such that the IFP can focus more on the aircraft oriented objectives. 
• Conduct joint calibration and validation studies of the various instruments that are being used in INDOEX.

 Instrumentation

1. Oceanographic Research Vessel (ORV) SAGAR KANYA Cruise: 17 February to 30 March 1998.
2. Island Stations:

1. 1. Male Site Observations: 15 January to 31 December 1998.
   2. Mauritius/Reunion Site Observations 1 January to 1 April 1998.

1. Indian LIDAR Stations: Mt. Abu, Pune and Trivandrum.
2. INSAT Satellite (Cloud Imager).
3. TRMM Satellite (CERES instrument for radiation budget).
4. ScaRaB Radiation Budget Satellite.
5. NOAA Polar Orbiter (AVHRR).
6. DMSP Satellite (Liquid Water).
7. IMD balloonsonde from Minicoy, Goa, Lucknow, Cochin, Madras, Vizag, Port Blair, and Trivandrum.

Supporting Projects

Prior to the INDOEX FIrst Field Phase there were several Pre-INDOEX ship cruises over the region including the R/V Malcolm Baldridge (21 Mar - 21 Apr 1995) and the R/V Sagar Kanya (5 Jan - 4 Feb 1996 and 27 Dec 1996 - 23 Jan 1997).  The intensive field phase of INDOEX 1999 utlized aircraft, ships, surface, and upper air instrumentation to examine the aerosols, clouds, and chemistry of the Indian Ocean.