ARCSIX: In-Situ Cloud and Meteorology Data from Learjet Aircraft

Greenland and the Arctic region are the focus of this dataset from the NASA ARCSIX campaign. It contains in-situ cloud microphysics and meteorology measurements collected onboard a SPEC-Learjet aircraft during two deployments in May-June and July-August 2024. The data are intended to validate remote sensing algorithms and improve model parameterizations of Arctic clouds, aerosols, and their role in the surface radiation budget and sea ice melt.

Use Cases

• Validating satellite remote sensing retrievals of cloud properties based on in-situ probe measurements.
• Improving parameterizations of cloud microphysics in climate models using particle size and phase distributions.
• Analyzing the impact of specific cloud types on the Arctic surface radiation budget during the melt season.
• Studying the two-way interactions between atmospheric forcings and sea ice evolution using coordinated aircraft and surface data.

Strengths

• Data collection is complete for a major NASA field campaign (ARCSIX).
• Includes measurements from multiple specialized probes (2D-Gray, 2DS, FCDP, HVPS, Nevzorov).
• Campaign involved coordinated measurements from three aircraft and a ground observatory, providing context.

Limitations

• Column names and data structure are not specified in the provided metadata.
• Exact row counts and file sizes are unknown, limiting assessment of dataset scale.
• License information is inconsistently reported as 'other-license-specified' or 'None'.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Collected in-situ from probes onboard a SPEC-Learjet aircraft during field deployments.

Time Range

May – August 2024

Freshness

2026-03-13

Geography

Arctic region, based out of Greenland with flights over sea ice.