CAR SCAR-A: Bidirectional Reflectance Factor Measurements Over Atlantic Ocean

Bidirectional reflectance factor observations from the CAR instrument during the SCAR-A campaign over the western Atlantic Ocean. The data set was created by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to study sulfate aerosols and biomass burning smoke. The data was last updated on March 13, 2026.

Use Cases

• Modeling aerosol radiative forcing based on bidirectional reflectance factor measurements.
• Improving remote sensing algorithms for smoke and cloud detection based on spectral band observations.
• Assessing the impact of biomass burning on atmospheric properties based on campaign data.
• Calibrating satellite retrievals of atmospheric constituents based on in-situ reflectance data.

Strengths

• Data originates from a NASA airborne campaign (SCAR-A) with a specific scientific mission.
• Includes bidirectional reflectance factor values across multiple spectral bands.
• Last metadata update recorded as March 13, 2026.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data files include non-standard formats (BIN, ISO) requiring specialized tools.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Observations made with the CAR (Cloud Absorption Radiometer) instrument during the SCAR-A field campaign.

Time Range

During the SCAR-A campaign (specific dates not provided).

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 06:14:25.969094; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Western Atlantic Ocean.