CAMEX-3 ER-2 NAST-MTS: Airborne Microwave Temperature Soundings

NAST-MTS navigation records and microwave spectral radiance measurements were collected during the third Convection and Moisture Experiment (CAMEX-3). The dataset contains observations from two radiometer systems covering the 50 to 56 GHz range, providing atmospheric temperature profiles from flight altitude to the surface. Its primary focus is on tropical cyclones and hurricanes.

Use Cases

• Atmospheric temperature profile retrieval based on microwave spectral radiance measurements.
• Hurricane and tropical cyclone research based on targeted airborne observations.
• Validation of satellite-based microwave sounder data based on coincident airborne measurements.
• Analysis of atmospheric convection and moisture processes based on campaign-specific data.

Strengths

• Data originates from a NASA airborne campaign (CAMEX-3), indicating a controlled collection environment.
• Contains specific microwave spectral radiance measurements in the 50-56 GHz range, used for temperature profiling.
• Targets specific meteorological phenomena (tropical cyclones and hurricanes), providing focused observations.

Limitations

• Column names and dataset size (rows, file size) are unspecified across all sources, limiting usability assessment.
• Source platforms disagree on the last update date (1998 vs. 2026), creating uncertainty about data currency and maintenance.
• Documentation appears sparse, with no author or detailed column information provided.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Airborne remote sensing via the NAST-MTS instrument aboard the ER-2 aircraft during the CAMEX-3 campaign.

Time Range

1998 (based on one platform's last updated date, which may indicate campaign year)

Freshness

2026-04-10 05:27:41.472280

Geography

Regions containing tropical cyclones and hurricanes observed during CAMEX-3.