FIRE Level 2
Entry Title: First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) University of Washington C-131A 10Hz Data
Entry ID: FIRE_AX_UW_GERB_10HZ_1
Aerosols 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 improve 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 observations with modeling studies to investigate the cloud properties and physical processes of the cloud systems. The development of parameterizations requires an understanding of the processes that generate, maintain, and dissipate boundary layer clouds. This development is currently impeded by lack of understanding of the transition from stratocumulus clouds to trade cumulus clouds and the factors that control cloud type and amount in the boundary layer. The Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition EXperiment (ASTEX) was designed to address key issues related to stratocumulus to trade cumulus transition and mode selection. ASTEX involved intensive measurements from several platforms operating from 1-28 June 1992 in the area of the Azores and Madeira Islands. The purpose was to study how the transition and mode selection are effected by 1) cloud-top entrainment instability, 2) diurnal decoupling and clearing due to solar absorption, 3) patchy drizzle and a transition to horizontally inhomogeneous clouds through decoupling, 4) mesoscale variability in cloud thickness and associated mesoscale circulations, and 5) episodic strong subsidence lowering the inversion below the LCL. Detailed descriptions of the scientific goals of ASTEX are in the FIRE Phase II: Research plan (1989) and in the ASTEX Operations Plan (1992).This ASCII formatted data set includes data collected aboard the University of Washington's Corsair 131A airplane. The cloud microphysics probe (PVM-100A) was used to gather data on cloud liquid water content, particle surface area, and effective droplet radius. Please refer to the reference authored by H. Gerber to obtain information on how the raw data were reduced to produce this data set.
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 University of Washington (UW) Langley DAAC Data Set Document
GENERAL DOCUMENTATION
- Project/Campaign Document: Project/Campaign Document: FIRE Langley DAAC
PRODUCTION HISTORY
Keywords
From GCMD Science Keywords:
- CLOUD LIQUID WATER/ICE > CLOUD MICROPHYSICS
- CLOUD DROPLET CONCENTRATION/SIZE > CLOUD MICROPHYSICS
- PARTICULATE MATTER
- WATER VAPOR > WATER VAPOR INDICATORS
- HUMIDITY > WATER VAPOR INDICATORS
- CLOUD TYPES
- Convair
- Effective Droplet Radius
- Gerber Probe
- Liquid Water Content
- Optical Counter
- Particle Surface Area
- PVM-100A
- University Of Washington C-131A
Data Distribution
File Format(s):
Native
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Spatial Information
Spatial Coverage Type: Horizontal
Coordinate System: Cartesian
Granule Spatial Representation: Cartesian
Locations
MID-LATITUDE ATLANTIC OCEAN BOUNDARY LAYER STRATOSPHERE TROPOSPHERE
Temporal Information
Temporal Coverage: 1992-06-02 - 1992-06-26