First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX

First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) data was collected by the University of Washington's C-131A aircraft in June 1992. The dataset contains 1Hz measurements from a cloud microphysics probe, including cloud liquid water content, particle surface area, and effective droplet radius. It was produced by NASA to study cloud processes and improve general circulation model parameterizations.

Use Cases

• Modeling the stratocumulus-to-cumulus cloud transition based on cloud liquid water content and droplet radius data.
• Analyzing cloud-top entrainment instability using high-frequency (1Hz) airborne microphysics measurements.
• Studying the impact of diurnal decoupling and solar absorption on cloud properties.
• Investigating the role of patchy drizzle in cloud inhomogeneity and decoupling processes.
• Validating satellite-derived cloud property estimates with in-situ airborne observations.

Strengths

• Data was collected during a coordinated, intensive field observation period from June 1-28, 1992.
• Measurements include specific cloud microphysics variables: liquid water content, particle surface area, and effective droplet radius.
• Data is associated with a documented scientific experiment (ASTEX) with goals outlined in a 1989 research plan and a 1992 operations plan.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data files are in specialized formats (BIN, TAR, ISO), which may require specific tools for access.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Data collected aboard the University of Washington's Corsair 131A airplane using a cloud microphysics probe (PVM-100A).

Time Range

June 1992

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 02:46:23.067669; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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