FIRE ASTEX: Daily Solar Irradiance from METEOSAT Satellite

First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) data provides daily solar irradiance calculations at the surface based on METEOSAT satellite observations. The data was produced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and last updated in March 2026. It covers specific field observation periods, including a marine stratocumulus mission in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean from June 1 to June 28, 1992.

Use Cases

• Validating and improving solar irradiance parameterizations in climate models based on satellite-derived flux data.
• Studying the interaction of physical processes in marine stratocumulus cloud life cycles based on coordinated field observation data.
• Investigating relationships between satellite data and higher-resolution cloud observations for model calibration.

Strengths

• Data is derived from coordinated satellite, airborne, and surface observations designed for model validation.
• Spatial resolution is specified as 0.04 degrees per pixel.
• Covers specific, documented intensive field observation periods from 1986 to 1992.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• The description notes a discrepancy between file headers claiming two channels and documentation stating one channel.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Calculations based on observations by the METEOSAT satellite.

Time Range

Covers specific field campaigns, including June 1-28, 1992.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 02:56:10.440919; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Eastern North Atlantic Ocean region.