FIFE Radiosonde Atmospheric Profiles from 1987-1989 Campaigns

445 radiosonde launches from 1987 and 1989 provide vertical profiles of temperature, humidity, and wind velocity in the atmospheric boundary layer over northeastern Kansas. Measurements were taken between 900 and 1800 CDST during five FIFE Intensive Field Campaigns to determine regional surface heat flux using Monin-Obukhov similarity theory. The raw data has been corrected for sensor delays and algorithm inconsistencies, then interpolated to standard pressure levels.

Use Cases

• Analyzing vertical profiles of dry-bulb and wet-bulb temperature to study atmospheric stability and humidity gradients.
• Calculating wind velocity profiles to understand momentum transport and shear in the boundary layer.
• Applying Monin-Obukhov similarity theory to estimate regional surface heat flux from the corrected profile data.
• Studying diurnal variations in boundary layer structure using measurements concentrated between 900 and 1800 CDST.
• Serving as a validation dataset for models simulating land-atmosphere exchange during the FIFE campaigns.

Strengths

• Contains 445 individual radiosonde launches, providing a substantial sample for statistical analysis.
• Data spans five distinct Intensive Field Campaigns across multiple seasons in 1987 and 1989.
• Raw measurements have been corrected for known sensor delays and algorithm inconsistencies.
• Profiles are interpolated to standard pressure levels, facilitating direct comparison and analysis.

Limitations

• Specific column names, row counts, and dataset size are not provided by any source.
• Conflicting last updated dates: Data.gov lists 2026-03-13 (likely a metadata error), while NASA Earthdata lists 1989-08-12.
• License is specified as 'other-license-specified' without further details on usage restrictions.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Intensive radiosoundings launched from a site near the northern edge of the FIFE experimental area in Kansas.

Time Range

1987 to 1989

Freshness

1989-08-12 23:59:59.999000

Geography

Northeastern Kansas, USA, within the FIFE experimental area.