FIRE ASTEX: ERS-1 Satellite Wind Measurements over the Atlantic, June 1992

Four intensive field-observation periods were executed between 1986 and 1992 to improve cloud and radiation models. The wind scatterometer aboard the ERS-1 satellite scanned a 300km wide zone, and data from the ASTEX domain have been extracted for June, 1992. This dataset was processed by the European Space Agency and is provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Use Cases

• Investigating marine stratocumulus cloud life cycles based on coordinated satellite observations mentioned in the description
• Improving wind parameterizations in climate models based on scatterometer-derived surface wind data
• Studying cloud-radiation interactions in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean based on the ASTEX field campaign
• Validating satellite data products against higher-resolution cloud data as described in the FIRE program goals

Strengths

• Data originates from a coordinated, multi-instrument field campaign (FIRE) designed for model improvement
• Covers a specific intensive observation period in June 1992 for the ASTEX domain
• Satellite instrument provides a 300km wide measurement swath with a 35-day orbital cycle

Limitations

• The processing algorithm (CMOD2) has been revealed to fail in a number of cases, resulting in erroneous wind direction
• Row count and specific column definitions are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
• Data cannot be used without a careful examination of their coherence due to known algorithm issues

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Processed from fast delivery product tapes provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) from the ERS-1 satellite wind scatterometer.

Time Range

Primary extracted data from June 1992; overall FIRE program conducted from 1986 to 1992.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 02:54:37.626925; freshness should be verified

Geography

Eastern North Atlantic Ocean, specifically the ASTEX (Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment) domain.