FIRE Cirrus Phase II: NCAR Kingair Aircraft Measurements of Cloud Properties, 1991

First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Cirrus Phase II data from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Kingair aircraft. The dataset contains coordinated airborne observations from a 1991 field campaign in Kansas, measuring radiation, microphysics, temperature, moisture, and air motions within cirrus clouds. It was produced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to improve cloud and radiation parameterizations in climate models.

Use Cases

• Validate and improve general circulation model (GCM) cloud parameterizations based on high-resolution in-situ cloud data.
• Study the life cycle and radiative properties of cirrus clouds based on coordinated aircraft measurements.
• Investigate relationships between satellite-derived cloud data and detailed airborne observations.
• Analyze cloud microphysical processes based on measured properties like temperature, moisture, and air motions.

Strengths

• Data is from a coordinated, intensive field observation (IFO) period designed for model validation.
• Combines multiple measurement types: radiation, microphysics, temperature, moisture, and air motions.
• Part of a series of four planned field experiments targeting specific cloud systems.

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), requiring specific tools for access.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Airborne measurements from the NCAR King Air aircraft during a coordinated field campaign.

Time Range

Primary observation period from November 9 to December 8, 1991.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 02:52:18.819838; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Southeastern Kansas, specifically Coffeyville, during the Cirrus IFO-II.