First ISCCP Regional Experiment Atlantic Stratocumulus Longwave Flux Data

The First ISCCP Regional Experiments (FIRE) dataset provides calculated downward longwave flux at the surface derived from METEOSAT satellite observations during the Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX). Data files contain I2 pixels arranged in 188 pixels per row across 163 rows, with each pixel representing a spatial resolution of 0.08 degrees and flux measured in Wm^-2. The data was collected during four intensive field observation periods between 1986 and 1992 by the NASA Langley Research Center Atmospheric Science Data Center (LARC_ASDC).

Use Cases

• Validating and improving cloud radiation parameterizations in General Circulation Models (GCMs) using measured longwave flux values.
• Analyzing the life cycles and radiative properties of marine stratocumulus cloud systems over the Atlantic Ocean.
• Studying the interaction between satellite-derived data (METEOSAT) and higher-resolution cloud observations for specific Intensive Field Observation (IFO) periods.
• Investigating downward longwave radiation at the surface for specific dates and Universal Times (UT) calculated from file slot numbers.

Strengths

• Data is derived from coordinated satellite (METEOSAT), airborne, and surface observations, providing multiple measurement perspectives.
• Covers four distinct Intensive Field Observation periods spanning from 1986 to 1992, offering temporal context for cloud studies.
• Provides geospatially resolved data with a defined pixel grid of 188 pixels per row and 163 rows at 0.08-degree resolution.

Limitations

• Specific column names, total row count, and dataset size are not provided by any source platform.
• There is a conflict in the 'last updated' metadata, with one source listing 2026-03-13 and another listing 1992-07-02, casting doubt on data maintenance.

Provenance

Source

NASA Langley Research Center Atmospheric Science Data Center (LARC_ASDC).

Collection Method

Calculated from METEOSAT satellite observations during coordinated field campaigns.

Time Range

1986-10-13 to 1992-06-28

Freshness

2026-03-13 02:56:03.157657

Geography

Covers the ASTEX region in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean, with specific IFOs also off the coast of California and in southeastern Kansas.