FIRE: NASA ER-2 Lidar Cloud Top Heights from 1987 Marine Stratocumulus Experiment

The First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Marine Stratocumulus NASA ER-2 Cloud Lidar System Data contains cloud top and ground height calculations from a 1987 airborne campaign. Data includes time, position, and plane height parameters, with undetected values signified by -9.9. This dataset was produced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to improve cloud and radiation models.

Use Cases

• Validate satellite-derived cloud height estimates based on the airborne lidar measurements.
• Study marine stratocumulus cloud life cycles and radiative properties based on the described experimental goals.
• Improve cloud parameterizations in climate models based on the coordinated field observations.
• Analyze spatial and temporal patterns of cloud top heights based on the time and position data.

Strengths

• Data originates from a coordinated NASA airborne campaign designed for model validation.
• Specific undetected value flag (-9.9) is documented for data quality control.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is from a specific campaign in July 1987; temporal and geographic scope is limited.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Airborne observations from the NASA ER-2 Cloud Lidar System during a coordinated field experiment.

Time Range

July 1987

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 02:45:27.779015; freshness should be verified

Geography

Southwestern coast of California