Hourly Solar Irradiance Data From Atlantic Stratocumulus Experiment

Hourly solar irradiance at the surface was calculated from METEOSAT satellite observations during the 1992 ASTEX field campaign. Data is provided as 326 rows by 376 pixel grids with a spatial resolution of 0.04 degrees per pixel. The dataset was produced by the Centre Meteorologie Spatiale and archived by NASA's LARC_ASDC.

Use Cases

• Validate solar irradiance predictions in GCMs using hourly flux measurements from the 1992 ASTEX period.
• Analyze spatial patterns of surface solar energy across the eastern North Atlantic Ocean using the 0.04-degree resolution pixel grid.
• Study marine stratocumulus cloud-radiation interactions by correlating irradiance data with other FIRE mission observations from June 1992.

Strengths

• Data originates from a coordinated intensive field observation period combining satellite, airborne, and surface measurements.
• Spatial resolution is specified as 0.04 degrees per pixel across a 376x326 pixel grid.

Limitations

• Temporal coverage is limited to a single month from June 1 to June 28, 1992.
• Documentation inconsistencies exist, with file headers claiming two channels while documentation states one channel per file.
• Data format and unit specifics (flux in tenths of Joule/cm^2) may require conversion for modern analysis.

Provenance

Source

Calculations based on observations from the METEOSAT satellite.

Collection Method

Derived from satellite data as part of the FIRE ASTEX coordinated field campaign.

Time Range

June 1 to June 28, 1992.

Freshness

null

Geography

Eastern North Atlantic Ocean, specifically the ASTEX region.