FIRE ASTEX: Santa Maria Surface Meteorological Data, June 1992

June 1992 surface observations from Santa Maria Island collected by the University of Utrecht during the Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX). The data includes temperature, humidity, wind speed/direction, and shortwave radiation measurements taken every 2 minutes. It was designed to improve cloud and radiation parameterizations for general circulation models.

Use Cases

• Analyze diurnal cycles of marine stratocumulus clouds based on incoming and outgoing shortwave radiation measurements.
• Model boundary layer interactions based on temperature and humidity data at 2-meter and 6-meter heights.
• Study wind patterns and their influence on cloud formation based on wind speed and direction at 6 meters.
• Validate satellite-derived cloud properties against high-temporal-resolution surface observations.

Strengths

• Sensor accuracy is documented for each variable (e.g., temperature sensor ±0.2°C, wind speed sensor ±0.2 m/s).
• High temporal resolution with measurements recorded every 2 minutes.
• Data is part of a coordinated field experiment combining satellite, airborne, and surface observations.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Relative humidity measurements are noted to be less accurate above 90%.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Collected by the University of Utrecht using surface instruments at a fixed site.

Time Range

June 1992

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 02:47:36.869756; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Santa Maria Island, Azores (36.99°N, 25.17°W)