FIRE: Marine Stratocumulus Cloud and Atmospheric Sounding Data from San Nicolas Island

San Nicolas Island, California, was the site for this data collection during the First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Marine Stratocumulus field campaign. The dataset includes cloud base height measurements from a ceilometer and atmospheric soundings from a Cross-chain Loran Atmospheric Sounding System (CLASS), with thermodynamic and wind data. It was produced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration from observations made in June and July 1987.

Use Cases

• Validate cloud life cycle models based on cloud base height time-series data.
• Analyze thermodynamic profiles for marine stratocumulus systems based on processed CLASS sounding data.
• Study interactions between cloud properties and atmospheric processes based on coordinated surface observations.
• Investigate data relationships between satellite observations and higher-resolution field data as mentioned in the experiment goals.

Strengths

• Data originates from a coordinated, intensive field-observation period designed for model validation.
• Includes multiple data products: ceilometer measurements and raw/processed atmospheric soundings.
• Part of a larger experiment with four planned field campaigns, providing context for comparative studies.

Limitations

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

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Collected via coordinated surface observations using a ceilometer and a Cross-chain Loran Atmospheric Sounding System (CLASS) during an intensive field campaign.

Time Range

June 29 - July 20, 1987

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 02:45:23.300433; freshness should be verified

Geography

San Nicolas Island, off the southwestern coast of California, USA