CAR CLASIC BRDF Measurements V2 (CAR_CLASIC_BRDF) at GES DISC

June 2007 observations from the Cloud and Land Surface Interaction Campaign (CLASIC) in the Southern Great Plains of the United States. The data set consists of measurements from the CAR instrument aboard a Sky Research Jetstream-31 aircraft, providing bidirectional reflectance factor values at varying spectral bands. It was collected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Use Cases

• Modeling bidirectional reflectance distribution functions (BRDF) based on the spectral and angular reflectance measurements.
• Analyzing land surface influences on cumulus convection based on surface reflectance data collected during the campaign.
• Studying the spectral and angular distribution of light scattered by clouds and aerosols as mentioned in the instrument description.
• Validating satellite-derived surface reflectance products using the high-resolution airborne measurements.

Strengths

• Data originates from a focused campaign (CLASIC) in the world's largest climate research field site, covering approximately 55,000 square miles.
• Measurements include spectral, angular, and imagery data, providing multiple dimensions for analysis.
• Campaign was conducted during a specific, documented period (June 2007) in a defined geographic region (Southern Great Plains).

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic and temporal bias inherent to a single month-long campaign in one region.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Airborne measurements collected by the CAR instrument aboard a Sky Research Jetstream-31 aircraft.

Time Range

June 2007

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 06:17:34.987135; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Southern Great Plains (SGP) region of the United States, comprising Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.