The First ISCCP Regional Experiments have been designed to improve data products and cloud/radiation parameterizations used in general circulation models (GCMs). Specifically, the goals of FIRE are (1) to improve basic understanding of the interaction of physical processes in determining life cycles of cirrus and marine stratocumulus systems and the radiative properties of these clouds during their life cycles and (2) to investigate the interrelationships between the ISCCP data, GCM parameterizations, and higher space and time resolution cloud data.To-date, four intensive field-observation periods were planned and executed: a cirrus IFO (October 13-November 2, 1986); a marine stratocumulus IFO off the southwestern coast of California (June 29-July 20, 1987); a second cirrus IFO in southeastern Kansas (November 13-December 7, 1991); and a second marine stratocumulus IFO in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean (June 1-June 28, 1992). Each mission combined coordinated satellite, airborne, and surface observations with modeling studies to investigate the cloud properties and physical processes of the cloud systems.Infrared radiation measurements from NASA ER-2 aircraft-based instruments during the FIRE Cirrus IFO, October/November 1986. 1) Narrow field-of-view nadir radiances and brightness temperatures, 6.6 and 10.4 um wavelength channels; 2) upwelling and downwelling hemispherical broadband solar fluxes; 3) net upwelling hemispherical fluxes, broadband thermal infrared.

The First ISCCP Regional Experiments have been designed to improve data products and cloud/radiation parameterizations used in general circulation models (GCMs). Specifically, the goals of FIRE are (1) to seek the basic understanding of the interaction of physical processes in determining life cycles of cirrus and marine stratocumulus systems and the radiative properties of these clouds during their life cycles and (2) to investigate the interrelationships between ISCCP data, GCM parameterizations, and higher space and time resolution cloud data. To-date, four intensive field-observation periods were planned and executed: a cirrus IFO (October 13 - November 2, 1986); a marine stratocumulus IFO off the southwestern coast of California (June 29 - July 20, 1987); a second cirrus IFO in southeastern Kansas (November 13 - December 7, 1991); and a second marine stratocumulus IFO in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean (June 1 - June 28, 1992). Each mission combined coordinated satellite, airborne, and surface observations with modeling studies to investigate the cloud properties and physical processes of the cloud systems.This data set contains images of cirrus clouds advected over the HSRL during FIRE Cirrus 2 in Coffeyville, Kansas. These images consist of both the lidar backscatter and the depolarization ratio of backscatter radiation.

The First ISCCP Regional Experiments have been designed to improve data products and cloud/radiation parameterizations used in general circulation models (GCMs). Specifically, the goals of FIRE are (1) to seek the basic understanding of the interaction of physical processes in determining life cycles of cirrus and marine stratocumulus systems and the radiative properties of these clouds during their life cycles and (2) to investigate the interrelationships between ISCCP data, GCM parameterizations, and higher space and time resolution cloud data. To-date, four intensive field-observation periods were planned and executed: a cirrus IFO (October 13 - November 2, 1986); a marine stratocumulus IFO off the southwestern coast of California (June 29 - July 20, 1987); a second cirrus IFO in southeastern Kansas (November 13 - December 7, 1991); and a second marine stratocumulus IFO in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean (June 1 - June 28, 1992). Each mission combined coordinated satellite, airborne, and surface observations with modeling studies to investigate the cloud properties and physical processes of the cloud systems.The GSFC Raman Lidar water vapor mixing ratio (wvmr) data with altitudes and times were collected for the period from 13 Nov 1991 to07 Dec 1991. Data were collected at night and consists of a series of one minute profiles. Data are summed for one minute in the detectors and saved to a file. For the 10 minute averaged data, the data are summed for 10 minutes before the calculations are performed. Each profile has a 75 meter resolution from 0.4135 to 10.299 kilometers. Zero (0) km means sea level. The site altitude is 0.229 km and thefirst data point is at 0.1845 km above ground level.

The First ISCCP Regional Experiments have been designed to improve data products and cloud/radiation parameterizations used in general circulation models (GCMs). Specifically, the goals of FIRE are (1) to seek the basic understanding of the interaction of physical processes in determining life cycles of cirrus and marine stratocumulus systems and the radiative properties of these clouds during their life cycles and (2) to investigate the interrelationships between ISCCP data, GCM parameterizations, and higher space and time resolution cloud data. To-date, four intensive field-observation periods were planned and executed: a cirrus IFO (October 13 - November 2, 1986); a marine stratocumulus IFO off the southwestern coast of California (June 29 - July 20, 1987); a second cirrus IFO in southeastern Kansas (November 13 - December 7, 1991); and a second marine stratocumulus IFO in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean (June 1 - June 28, 1992). Each mission combined coordinated satellite, airborne, and surface observations with modeling studies to investigate the cloud properties and physical processes of the cloud systems.SPECTRE/SIRIS high spectral resolution observations were obtained at Coffeyville, Kansas in November - December 1991. The SIRIS instrument has been previously flown for balloon-borne studies of stratospheric chemistry relevant to the ozone cycles. It is a modified version of a Bomem continuously scanning Fourier transform spectrometer, operating in emission mode. The following instrument parameters were applicable for the Coffeyville SPECTRE campaign. The field-of-view, 0.5 degrees full width at half-maximum, was directed towards the zenith, except for a day when limb were recorded. The highest emission-mode spectral resolution recorded during SPECTRE was taken by SIRIS 0.06 cm-1, apodized. Scan times varied from one to a few minutes, depending onthe resolution. The instrument was run at ambient temperature, withthe Si:Ga detectors at liquid helium (LHe) temperature. Data are limited by photon noise from the emission from the instrument and from the atmosphere itself. Therefore data were recorded with two different width bandpasses: 1) narrow bandpass cooled filters in channels 1-4, which reduces the background noise, yielding higher signal-to-noise; and 2) wide band in channel 5 for more complete spectral coverage.It was the goal of SPECTRE to acquire clear-sky radiance spectra under a variety of temperature and water vapor conditions.

The First ISCCP Regional Experiments have been designed to improve data products and cloud/radiation parameterizations used in general circulation models (GCMs). Specifically, the goals of FIRE are (1) to seek the basic understanding of the interaction of physical processes in determining life cycles of cirrus and marine stratocumulus systems and the radiative properties of these clouds during their life cycles and (2) to investigate the interrelationships between ISCCP data, GCM parameterizations, and higher space and time resolution cloud data. To-date, four intensive field-observation periods were planned and executed: a cirrus IFO (October 13 - November 2, 1986); a marine stratocumulus IFO off the southwestern coast of California (June 29 - July 20, 1987); a second cirrus IFO in southeastern Kansas (November 13 - December 7, 1991); and a second marine stratocumulus IFO in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean (June 1 - June 28, 1992). Each mission combined coordinated satellite, airborne, and surface observations with modeling studies to investigate the cloud properties and physical processes of the cloud systems.This data set contains images of cirrus cloud scans of 120 km extent both along the wind and across the wind (at the cirrus clouds heights). These images were collected during FIRE Cirrus 2 in Coffeyville, Kansas.

The First ISCCP Regional Experiments have been designed to improve data products and cloud/radiation parameterizations used in general circulation models (GCMs). Specifically, the goals of FIRE are (1) to improve basic understanding of the interaction of physical processes in determining life cycles of cirrus and marine stratocumulus systems and the radiative properties of these clouds during their life cycles and (2) to investigate the interrelationships between the ISCCP data, GCM parameterizations, and higher space and time resolution cloud data.To-date, four intensive field-observation periods were planned and executed: a cirrus IFO (October 13-November 2, 1986); a marine stratocumulus IFO off the southwestern coast of California (June 29-July 20, 1987); a second cirrus IFO in southeastern Kansas (November 13-December 7, 1991); and a second marine stratocumulus IFO in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean (June 1-June 28, 1992). Each mission combined coordinated satellite, airborne, and surface observations with modeling studies to investigate the cloud properties and physical processes of the cloud systems.The Colorado State radiometer data set was produced by the Department of Atmospheric Sciences of CSU as part of the FIRE Phase II Cirrus Intensive Field Observations (IFO) conducted in Coffeyville, Kansas. The CSU PRT-6 data were collected during the period from Nov. 18, 1991 (day 322) to Dec. 7, 1991 (day 341) at the Parsons KG&E Power Plant, Parsons, Kansas (37 deg. 18 min. N and 95 deg. 07 min.W). The PRT-6 is an all-purpose chopped bolometer. It was operated with a 2 degree field of view pointing vertically upward. The filter employed narrowed the spectral band to ranges from about 885 to 945 inversecentimeters (the infrared window region). The PRT-6 was not run in continuous mode. When operating, data were sampled every 5 seconds. Please note that there are temporal gaps in the data.

The First ISCCP Regional Experiments have been designed to improve data products and cloud/radiation parameterizations used in general circulation models (GCMs). Specifically, the goals of FIRE are (1) to improve basic understanding of the interaction of physical processes in determining life cycles of cirrus and marine stratocumulus systems and the radiative properties of these clouds during their life cycles and (2) to investigate the interrelationships between the ISCCP data, GCM parameterizations, and higher space and time resolution cloud data.To-date, four intensive field-observation periods were planned and executed: a cirrus IFO (October 13-November 2, 1986); a marine stratocumulus IFO off the southwestern coast of California (June 29-July 20, 1987); a second cirrus IFO in southeastern Kansas (November 13-December 7, 1991); and a second marine stratocumulus IFO in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean (June 1-June 28, 1992). Each mission combined coordinated satellite, airborne, and surface observations with modeling studies to investigate the cloud properties and physical processes of the cloud systems.The Doppler lidar data set includes wind profiles derived by the VAD method for the FIRE-II top 5 priority days (21,25,28,30 of Nov. 1991, and Dec. 5, 1991). Vertical profiles of the horizontal wind speed and direction were acquired by the lidar using a classical method commonly referred to as the VAD technique, where VAD stands for Velocity Azimuth Display.The Doppler lidar experiment objective was to obtain lidar measurements of relative backscatter signal intensity and radial velocity from cirrus clouds to study their microphysical and radiative properties. This data set provides vertical profiles (approx. 1.5 - 20.0 km agl).

The First ISCCP Regional Experiments have been designed to improve data products and cloud/radiation parameterizations used in general circulation models (GCMs). Specifically, the goals of FIRE are (1) to seek the basic understanding of the interaction of physical processes in determining life cycles of cirrus and marine stratocumulus systems and the radiative properties of these clouds during their life cycles and (2) to investigate the interrelationships between ISCCP data, GCM parameterizations, and higher space and time resolution cloud data. To-date, four intensive field-observation periods were planned and executed: a cirrus IFO (October 13 - November 2, 1986); a marine stratocumulus IFO off the southwestern coast of California (June 29 - July 20, 1987); a second cirrus IFO in southeastern Kansas (November 13 - December 7, 1991); and a second marine stratocumulus IFO in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean (June 1 - June 28, 1992). Each mission combined coordinated satellite, airborne, and surface observations with modeling studies to investigate the cloud properties and physical processes of the cloud systems. The MODIS Airbourne Simulator (MAS) is a modified Daedalus Wildfire scanning spectrometer which flies on a NASA ER-2 and provides spectral information similar to that which will be provided by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), scheduled to be launched on the EOS-AM platform in 1998 (King et al. 1992). The principal investigators for the MAS are Dr. Michael King (NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt MD), and Dr. Paul Menzel (NOAA/NESDIS, Madison WI). In November/December 1991, the modified Wildfire instrument was flown during the FIRE Cirrus-II experiment onboard a NASA ER-2 in coordination with other aircraft and satellites over the Coffeyville, KS field site as well as the Texas and Louisiana Gulf coast. The MAS spectrometer acquires high spatial resolution imagery in the wavelength range of 0.55 to 14.3 microns. A total of 50 spectral bands are available in this range, and the digitizer can be configured to collect data from any 12 of these bands. The digitizer was configured with four 10-bit channels and seven 8-bit channels. The MAS spectrometer was mated to a scanner subassembly which collected image data with an IFOV of 2.5 mrad, giving a ground resolution of 50 meters from 20000 meters altitude, and a cross track scan width of 85.92 degrees. The data granules were written using the self documenting file storage format provided through the netCDF interface routines included in the HDF libraries.

The First ISCCP Regional Experiments have been designed to improve data products and cloud/radiation parameterizations used in general circulation models (GCMs). Specifically, the goals of FIRE are (1) to seek the basic understanding of the interaction of physical processes in determining life cycles of cirrus and marine stratocumulus systems and the radiative properties of these clouds during their life cycles and (2) to investigate the interrelationships between ISCCP data, GCM parameterizations, and higher space and time resolution cloud data. To-date, four intensive field-observation periods were planned and executed: a cirrus IFO (October 13 - November 2, 1986); a marine stratocumulus IFO off the southwestern coast of California (June 29 - July 20, 1987); a second cirrus IFO in southeastern Kansas (November 13 - December 7, 1991); and a second marine stratocumulus IFO in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean (June 1 - June 28, 1992). Each mission combined coordinated satellite, airborne, and surface observations with modeling studies to investigate the cloud properties and physical processes of the cloud systems.Lidar returned signal in arbitrary units, raw data, background subtracted, Minimum value = 0, Maximum value = 25600, Scaling Factor = 100 A description of the lidar is given in the following paper: Sassen, K., 1994: Advances in polarization diversity lidar for cloud remote sensing, Proc. IEEE, 82, 1907-1914

The First ISCCP Regional Experiments have been designed to improve data products and cloud/radiation parameterizations used in general circulation models (GCMs). Specifically, the goals of FIRE are (1) to seek the basic understanding of the interaction of physical processes in determining life cycles of cirrus and marine stratocumulus systems and the radiative properties of these clouds during their life cycles and (2) to investigate the interrelationships between ISCCP data, GCM parameterizations, and higher space and time resolution cloud data. To-date, four intensive field-observation periods were planned and executed: a cirrus IFO (October 13 - November 2, 1986); a marine stratocumulus IFO off the southwestern coast of California (June 29 - July 20, 1987); a second cirrus IFO in southeastern Kansas (November 13 - December 7, 1991); and a second marine stratocumulus IFO in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean (June 1 - June 28, 1992). Each mission combined coordinated satellite, airborne, and surface observations with modeling studies to investigate the cloud properties and physical processes of the cloud systems.Microwave radiometer with steerable antenna was used for the measurement of column amounts of liquid water in clouds, and precipitable water vapor in the atmosphere. Antenna was directed to the zenith during FIRE I.Operating frequencies: 20.6, 31.65, 90.0 GHzSpatial resolution: 2.5 deg antenna beamwidth (44m @ 1.0 km range)Temporal resolution: 60 secEstimated accuracies Liquid water: +/- 10 percent or better (absolute) Noise level +/- .025 mm Water vapor: 0.08 cm rms relative to radiosonde (Vapor and liquid data retrievals were from 20.6 and 31.65 GHz data only)Radiometer location: San Nicolas Island, northwestern tip 33.27N, 119.58W