First ISCCP Regional Experiment Cirrus Phase II CLASS Data

First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Cirrus Phase II Cross-chain LORAN Atmospheric Sounding System (CLASS) Data provides atmospheric profile measurements from four field campaigns focused on cirrus and marine stratocumulus clouds. The dataset, managed by NASA's LARC_ASDC, was collected during intensive field observation periods between 1986 and 1992. It combines coordinated satellite, airborne, and surface observations to study cloud properties and physical processes for improving climate models.

Use Cases

• Validating cloud life cycle simulations in climate models using atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles.
• Analyzing wind patterns and atmospheric stability for cirrus cloud formation studies using upper-level and surface wind data.
• Studying water vapor transport and its role in cloud radiative properties using humidity and water vapor indicator columns.
• Correlating surface pressure measurements with satellite cloud retrievals to improve ISCCP data products.
• Investigating the vertical structure of the atmosphere during specific field campaigns using geopotential height and air temperature data.

Strengths

• Data originates from four coordinated, intensive field observation periods conducted between 1986 and 1992, providing focused temporal snapshots.
• Measurements integrate satellite, airborne, and surface observations, offering a multi-platform perspective on cloud systems.
• The dataset includes specific atmospheric variables such as geopotential height, atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity, and winds, as listed on Data.gov.

Limitations

• Key quantitative metrics like row count, file size, and specific column names are unavailable across all sources.
• There is a conflict in the 'last updated' metadata, with one source listing 1991-12-07 and others listing 2026-03-13, suggesting possible archival vs. metadata update confusion.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Collected via Cross-chain LORAN Atmospheric Sounding System (CLASS) sondes launched from four ground locations during coordinated field campaigns.

Time Range

1986-10-13 to 1992-06-28

Freshness

2026-03-13 02:52:06.421838

Geography

Data collected from four locations: Arkansas City, KS; Coffeyville, KS; Iola, KS; and Muskogee, OK, with field campaigns also off the coast of California and in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean.