Atlantic Stratocumulus Cloud Microphysics from 1992 Airborne Campaign

10Hz frequency measurements from a University of Washington C-131A aircraft during the June 1992 Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX). The dataset contains cloud microphysics data, including liquid water content, particle surface area, and effective droplet radius, collected to study the transition from stratocumulus to trade cumulus clouds. Data was processed by NASA's Langley Research Center Atmospheric Science Data Center from the FIRE program.

Use Cases

• Validate cloud microphysics parameterizations in GCMs using the 10Hz liquid water content and effective droplet radius measurements.
• Analyze diurnal decoupling effects on cloud properties by correlating time-series data with solar absorption periods.
• Study cloud-top entrainment instability by examining high-frequency particle surface area and droplet radius data during transition events.
• Investigate the impact of patchy drizzle on cloud inhomogeneity using the liquid water content and effective radius fields.

Strengths

• High-frequency 10Hz sampling captures fine-scale cloud microphysical processes.
• Data collected during a coordinated, intensive field campaign (ASTEX) from June 1-28, 1992 with multiple platforms.

Limitations

• Dataset is temporally limited to a single month in 1992, lacking contemporary observations.
• Spatial coverage is restricted to the specific flight paths in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean near the Azores and Madeira Islands.
• Raw data reduction methods and potential instrument calibration details require consulting external reference (Gerber).

Provenance

Source

NASA Langley Research Center Atmospheric Science Data Center (LARC_ASDC) from the FIRE/ASTEX program.

Collection Method

Airborne measurements collected via a cloud microphysics probe (PVM-100A) aboard the University of Washington C-131A aircraft.

Time Range

June 1992 (specifically June 1-28, 1992 for ASTEX).

Freshness

null

Geography

Eastern North Atlantic Ocean, area of the Azores and Madeira Islands.