NAMMA Cloud Particle Images and Microphysics Measurements

Cloud particle images and measurements from the NASA African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses campaign. The dataset contains high-resolution black and white images and derived properties from two airborne probes: the Two-Dimensional Stereo probe and the Cloud Particle Imager. Data was collected during the 2006 field mission based in the Cape Verde Islands to study African Easterly Waves and Mesoscale Convective Systems.

Use Cases

• Analyzing particle size distributions and shapes from high-resolution CPI and 2D-S images.
• Calculating derived atmospheric properties like ice water content, extinction, and particle concentration.
• Studying the microphysical structure of African Easterly Waves and Mesoscale Convective Systems.
• Validating satellite retrievals or climate model simulations of cloud properties over West Africa.
• Investigating the relationship between cloud particle morphology and regional energy budgets.

Strengths

• Provides high-resolution black and white images of individual cloud particles from two specialized probes.
• Contains derived quantitative measurements including particle concentration, ice water content, and extinction.
• Data originates from a focused NASA field campaign (NAMMA) with a clear scientific mission.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, file sizes, and a complete column schema are not provided by any source.
• Sources conflict on the last updated date (2006-09-12 vs. 2026-03-12), suggesting potential metadata errors.
• The license is ambiguously listed as 'other-license-specified' or 'None', requiring user verification.

Provenance

Source

NASA Science Mission Directorate, generated during the NAMMA campaign. Hosted by the GHRC DAAC.

Collection Method

Collected via airborne Two-Dimensional Stereo (2D-S) and Cloud Particle Imager (CPI) probes during aircraft flights.

Time Range

August 2006

Freshness

2026-03-12 23:59:31.782930

Geography

Cape Verde Islands and continental western Africa.