FIRE ASTEX: ECMWF Surface Diagnostics for Atlantic Stratocumulus, June 1992

A special set of analysis products for the Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) region during June 1-28, 1992. The data were prepared by Ernst Klinker and Tony Hollingsworth of the European Centre for Medium-range Forecasting (ECMWF) and reformatted by Chris Bretherton of the University of Washington. It incorporates routine global observations and about 650 special soundings from the ASTEX field campaign.

Use Cases

• Modeling stratocumulus-to-cumulus cloud transitions based on cloud cover fields (TCC, CCC, LCC, MCC, HCC).
• Analyzing surface energy budgets based on surface heat flux (SSHF, SLHF) and radiation (SSR, STR) fields.
• Studying precipitation processes based on large-scale (LSP) and convective (CP) precipitation data.
• Investigating surface-atmosphere interactions based on wind stress (EWSS, NSSS), evaporation (E), and boundary layer dissipation (BLD).
• Validating short-range weather forecasts against initialized model fields for temperature (2T), dewpoint (2D), and winds (10U, 10V).

Strengths

• Incorporates about 650 special soundings from the ASTEX field campaign alongside routine global observations.
• Data has a consistent horizontal resolution of 1.25 degrees in latitude and longitude.
• Provides multiple surface diagnostic fields, including both instantaneous and 6-hour accumulated values.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Aircraft soundings were not included in the analyses, which may limit atmospheric profile completeness.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

European Centre for Medium-range Forecasting (ECMWF), reformatted by University of Washington.

Collection Method

Initializations and very short-range forecasts from the ECMWF T213L30 operational model, incorporating routine and special ASTEX observations.

Time Range

June 1-28, 1992.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 02:47:20.438865; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) region (lat/lon range: 35W to 05W, 20N to 45N).