Four intensive field observation periods collected lidar data on cirrus and marine stratocumulus clouds between 1986 and 1992. The dataset contains raw lidar return signals from coordinated satellite, airborne, and surface observations, processed by the University of Utah and archived by NASA's LARC ASDC. The primary goal was to improve cloud and radiation parameterizations used in general circulation models.
Use Cases
- Analyze lidar return signal values (0-25600) over time to study the vertical structure and life cycles of cirrus clouds.
- Investigate the relationship between scaled lidar data (Scaling Factor = 100) and concurrent satellite observations for marine stratocumulus systems.
- Validate general circulation model (GCM) cloud parameterizations using high-resolution temporal lidar profiles from specific field campaigns.
- Study cloud physical processes by correlating background-subtracted lidar signals with other airborne and surface measurements from coordinated missions.
Strengths
- Data spans four distinct intensive field observation periods over a 6-year time range (1986-1992).
- Lidar signal data includes defined scaling and range parameters (Scaling Factor=100, Min=0, Max=25600).
- Observations combine coordinated satellite, airborne, and surface data for multi-instrument validation.
Limitations
- Data is temporally stale, with the last update recorded in 1997, limiting relevance for contemporary climate trends.
- Specific sample size, geographic coverage per file, and data completeness metrics are unknown.
Provenance
- Source
- NASA's LARC ASDC (Langley Research Center Atmospheric Science Data Center), with lidar data from the University of Utah.
- Collection Method
- Collected via polarization diversity lidar during four coordinated intensive field observation (IFO) campaigns.
- Time Range
- Field campaigns conducted in 1986, 1987, 1991, and 1992.
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Coverage includes specific IFO sites: southwestern coast of California, southeastern Kansas, and the eastern North Atlantic Ocean.