Atlantic Stratocumulus Cloud Microphysics Measurements from 1992 Aircraft Campaign

First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) data contains 1Hz airborne measurements from the University of Washington C-131A aircraft. The dataset includes cloud microphysics probe data on liquid water content, particle surface area, and effective droplet radius, collected during the intensive field period from June 1-28, 1992. It was produced by the NASA Langley Research Center Atmospheric Science Data Center (LARC_ASDC).

Use Cases

• Validate cloud microphysics parameterizations in GCMs using measured liquid water content and effective droplet radius.
• Study diurnal decoupling effects on cloud properties by analyzing time-series data of particle surface area.
• Investigate cloud-top entrainment instability by correlating high-frequency (1Hz) measurements of droplet radius with atmospheric conditions.
• Model the transition from stratocumulus to trade cumulus clouds using in-situ measurements of cloud liquid water content across the eastern North Atlantic.
• Analyze the impact of patchy drizzle on cloud inhomogeneity using sequences of effective droplet radius and liquid water content data.

Strengths

• High-temporal-resolution 1Hz measurements from a dedicated airborne platform.
• Data collected during a coordinated, intensive field observation period spanning 28 days in June 1992.
• Focuses on key cloud microphysical variables (liquid water content, effective radius) for a critical climate process.

Limitations

• Dataset is temporally stale, with no new measurements since the 1992 campaign.
• Spatial coverage is limited to the specific flight paths in the eastern North Atlantic near the Azores and Madeira Islands.
• The raw ASCII format and specific data reduction methods require careful reference to the cited technical documentation.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Data gathered by a cloud microphysics probe (PVM-100A) aboard the University of Washington C-131A aircraft during the ASTEX field campaign.

Time Range

Primary collection from June 1 to June 28, 1992.

Freshness

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Geography

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