FIRE ASTEX: Ceilometer Cloud Data from Atlantic Stratocumulus Experiment

First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The dataset contains ceilometer measurements from a 1992 field campaign in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean designed to study marine stratocumulus cloud systems. It was collected to improve satellite data products and cloud parameterizations used in general circulation models.

Use Cases

• Validate satellite cloud retrievals based on coordinated surface observations mentioned in the description
• Study marine stratocumulus cloud life cycles based on the experiment's stated goals
• Improve cloud/radiation parameterizations for general circulation models based on the dataset's purpose
• Investigate relationships between high-resolution cloud data and satellite climatology as described

Strengths

• Data originates from a coordinated NASA field experiment with defined scientific goals
• Part of a multi-experiment program with four intensive field-observation periods between 1986 and 1992
• Combines surface observations with satellite and airborne data for multi-source validation

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
• Data files include legacy formats (BIN, TAR, ISO) that may require specialized tools

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Coordinated surface, airborne, and satellite observations during an intensive field campaign.

Time Range

Primary data collection from the Atlantic Stratocumulus IFO (June 1 - June 28, 1992).

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 02:54:21.031307; freshness should be verified

Geography

Eastern North Atlantic Ocean, specifically off the southwestern coast of California and the eastern North Atlantic.