Ceilometer data from the Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) collected in June 1992. The dataset was created by the Langley Research Center Atmospheric Science Data Center (LARC_ASDC) as part of the First ISCCP Regional Experiments (FIRE) to study marine stratocumulus cloud life cycles. It includes surface-based cloud observations coordinated with satellite and airborne measurements during a 28-day intensive field period.
Use Cases
- Validate satellite-derived cloud base height estimates from ISCCP using surface-based ceilometer time-series data.
- Analyze the temporal evolution of cloud vertical structure during the marine stratocumulus IFO using cloud layer data.
- Correlate cloud base height and occurrence frequency with coordinated airborne and surface meteorological observations from the ASTEX campaign.
- Study diurnal cycles and transitions in stratocumulus cloud cover over the eastern North Atlantic Ocean.
Strengths
- Data originates from a coordinated, multi-platform field experiment (FIRE ASTEX) designed for model validation.
- Temporal coverage is precisely defined for a 28-day intensive field observation period in June 1992.
- Focuses on a critical climate-relevant cloud type (marine stratocumulus) in a key oceanic region.
Limitations
- Data is temporally limited to a single month from 1992, offering a snapshot rather than long-term climatology.
- Specific data volume, row count, and measurement frequency are unknown from the provided metadata.
- Geographic coverage is limited to the instrument deployment site(s) during the ASTEX campaign.
Provenance
- Source
- Langley Research Center Atmospheric Science Data Center (LARC_ASDC), NASA.
- Collection Method
- Surface-based ceilometer observations collected during the coordinated FIRE ASTEX field campaign.
- Time Range
- June 1 - June 28, 1992.
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Eastern North Atlantic Ocean, specific to the ASTEX campaign deployment (likely near Santa Maria).