Data from the 2001 CLAMS experiment collected using NASA's airborne Cloud Absorption Radiometer (CAR). The instrument, developed by Dr. Michael King at NASA Goddard, measures radiance across a 190-degree view with a 1-degree field-of-view resolution. It captures imagery of Earth's surface and cloud features for atmospheric analysis.
Use Cases
- Calculate single scattering albedo of clouds using multi-wavelength radiance measurements.
- Analyze the angular distribution of scattered radiation from the 190-degree scan data.
- Measure bidirectional reflectance distribution functions (BRDF) for various surface types from the acquired imagery.
- Validate satellite cloud and surface retrievals by comparing with the high-resolution, airborne CAR radiance data.
Strengths
- Data collected during a dedicated, coordinated field experiment (CLAMS).
- Instrument provides a 190-degree scan with 1-degree field-of-view resolution for detailed angular measurements.
- Multi-wavelength capability supports analysis across different spectral bands.
Limitations
- Dataset is from a single campaign in 2001, limiting temporal analysis and modern climate comparisons.
- Specific geographic coverage is undefined, potentially restricting regional studies.
- Unknown sample size and data volume prevent assessment of statistical power.
Provenance
- Source
- NASA Langley Atmospheric Science Data Center (LARC_ASDC).
- Collection Method
- Collected via the Cloud Absorption Radiometer (CAR) instrument mounted on the University of Washington's Convair CV-580 aircraft.
- Time Range
- 2001 (CLAMS experiment).
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Chesapeake Lighthouse region (implied by experiment name), specific bounds unknown.