ASTEX Radiosonde Atmospheric Profiles from Porto Santo

First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) Porto Santo Radiosonde Data contains vertical atmospheric profiles collected via ship-launched radiosondes. Data includes ascent rate, height, pressure, temperature, relative humidity, dew point, mixing ratio, and wind speed and direction. The dataset was created by LARC_ASDC and covers the specific time period from June 3, 1992, through June 23, 1992.

Use Cases

• Validate general circulation model (GCM) cloud parameterizations using vertical profiles of temperature, pressure, and relative humidity.
• Analyze the relationship between atmospheric stability and cloud formation using ascent rate, height, and dew point data.
• Study marine boundary layer dynamics and wind patterns using wind speed and direction measurements at different altitudes.
• Investigate moisture transport in the lower atmosphere by analyzing the mixing ratio and dew point profiles.

Strengths

• Data includes detailed vertical profiles with up to 1500 measurement points per sounding.
• Three distinct interpolated data products are provided: 5-second, 20-meter, and 2-millibar resolution.
• Each record contains precise launch location (latitude, longitude) and time (YYMMDDHHMM format).

Limitations

• Temporal coverage is limited to a 21-day campaign in June 1992.
• Geographic coverage is restricted to the ship track of the Oceanus during the ASTEX campaign.
• The dataset's age (1992) means it may not reflect current atmospheric conditions.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Collected via radiosonde instruments launched from the research vessel Oceanus.

Time Range

June 3, 1992 to June 23, 1992.

Freshness

null

Geography

Atlantic Ocean region around Porto Santo, as per the ship track of the Oceanus.