FIRE Level 2
Entry Title: First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) Colorado State University (CSU) Ceilometer Data (FIRE_AX_CSU_CEILOM)
Entry ID: FIRE_AX_CSU_CEILOM_1
Clouds
Description
The First ISCCP Regional Experiments have been designed to improve data products and cloud/radiation parameterizations used in general circulation models (GCMs). Specifically, the goals of FIRE are (1) to seek the basic understanding of the interaction of physical processes in determining life cycles of cirrus and marine stratocumulus systems and the radiative properties of these clouds during their life cycles and (2) to investigate the interrelationships between the ISCCP data, GCM parameterizations, and higher space and time resolution cloud data.To-date, four intensive field-observation periods were planned and executed: a cirrus IFO (October 13 - November 2, 1986); a marine stratocumulus IFO off the southwestern coast of California (June 29 - July 20, 1987) a second cirrus IFO in southeastern Kansas (November 13 - December 7, 1991); and a second marine stratocumulus IFO in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean (June 1 - June 28, 1992). Each mission combined coordinated satellite, airborne, and surface observationswith modeling studies to investigate the cloud properties and physical processes of the cloud system.The Belfort Laser Ceilometer was operated during FIRE ASTEX on Porto Santo, Madeira. It utilized a 20 watt near-infrared Gallium-Arsenide laser operating at a wavelength of 0.91 microns to detect cloud base height. It employed 1024 range gates which yield a vertical resolution of 25 feet up to a maximum range of 25,600 feet. The fields of view of the transmitter and receiver are approximately 1 degree.The ceilometer used a measured noise level to determine a count (-1,0,1) which is then summed for each gate. This histogram is the basic output from which the cloud base height is estimated.
Resources and Documentation
DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE
FIRE II-ASTEX Read Software Package - Direct File Download (.tar)
FIRE I-Cirrus Read Software Package - Direct File Download (.tar)
FIRE I-Extended-Time-Observation Read Software Package - Direct File Download (.tar)
FIRE II-Cirrus Read Software Package - Direct File Download (.tar)
FIRE III Read Software Package - Direct File Download (.tar)
VIEW RELATED INFORMATION
- How to cite ASDC data
DATA CITATION POLICY
- ASDC Data and Information for FIRE
- FIRE ASTEX Colorado State University (CSU) Langley DAAC Data Set Document
GENERAL DOCUMENTATION
- Project/Campaign Document: Project/Campaign Document: FIRE Langley DAAC
PRODUCTION HISTORY
Keywords
From GCMD Science Keywords:
- CLOUD BASE HEIGHT > CLOUD PROPERTIES
- CLOUD HEIGHT > CLOUD PROPERTIES
- CLOUD TYPES
- Cloud Base Height
- Cloud Ceiling
Data Distribution
File Format(s):
ASCII
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Spatial Information
Spatial Coverage Type: Horizontal
Coordinate System: Cartesian
Granule Spatial Representation: Cartesian
Locations
MID-LATITUDE ATLANTIC OCEAN NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN BOUNDARY LAYER STRATOSPHERE TROPOSPHERE AZORES OCEAN
Temporal Information
Temporal Coverage: 1992-05-31 - 1992-06-29