First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Cirrus 2 Cross-chain LORAN Atmospheric Sounding System (CLASS) Langley DAAC Data Set Document

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 system.

1. Data Set Overview
2. Investigator(s)
3. Theory of Measurements
4. Equipment
5. Data Acquisition Methods
6. Observations
7. Data Description
8. Data Organization
9. Data Manipulations
10. Errors
11. Notes
12. Application of the Data Set
13. Future Modifications and Plans
14. Software
15. Data Access
16. Output Products and Availability
17. References
18. Glossary of Terms
19. List of Acronyms
20. Document Information

FIRE_CI2_CLASS_SONDE:

First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Cirrus 2 Cross-chain LORAN Atmospheric Sounding System (CLASS) Data (FIRE_CI2_CLASS_SONDE)

David Starr
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 913.0
Greenbelt, MD 20771
USA
Phone: (301) 286-9129
FAX: ...
E-mail: STARR@CLIMATE.GSFC.NASA.GOV

Data Set Name	Min Lat	Max Lat	Min Lon	Max Lon
FIRE_CI2_CLASS_SONDE	35.65	38.00	-97.16	-95.35

Data Set Name	Begin Date	End Date
FIRE_CI2_CLASS_SONDE	11-06-1991	12-07-1991

Each record contains 21 variables. Variables are separated by white space(s). These variables with their units are listed in order below.

Variable Name
Time into launch (minutes)
Pressure (mb)
Temperature (C)
Dewpt - dewpoint temperature (C)
RH - relative humidity ()
Uwind (m/s)
Vwind (m/s)
Wspd - wind speed (m/s)
Dir - wind direction (degrees)
dZ (m/s)
Longitude (degrees)
Latitude (degrees)
Range (km)
Angle (degrees)
Altitude (m)
Qp (mb)
Qt (c)
Qh ()
Qu (m/s)
Qv (m/s)
Quv (m/s)

A general description of data granularity as it applies to the IMS appears in the EOSDIS Glossary.

NCAR class sonde data consist of 29 granules. The granule is named ci2_XXX_date, where XXX is the site id, and date the temporal coverage of the collected data. Each granule has multiple ASCII data files. The date and time of the soundings have been coded into the file names. Each class sonde file is named "imddhhMM.sta", where m is the month (values [1-9, a-c]; b=Nov), dd the day of month, hh the hour sounding start (GMT was used for CaPE), MM the minute for sounding start (hhMM is approximate), and sta the 3-letter station ID.

Langley DAAC User and Data Services Office
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 157D
Hampton, Virginia 23681-2199
USA
Telephone: (757) 864-8656
FAX: (757) 864-8807
E-mail: larc@eos.nasa.gov
URL: http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov

Langley DAAC User and Data Services Office
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 157D
Hampton, Virginia 23681-2199
USA
Telephone: (757) 864-8656
FAX: (757) 864-8807
E-mail: larc@eos.nasa.gov
URL: http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov

The Langley DAAC Information Management System (IMS) is an on-line system that features a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows to query the Langley DAAC data set holdings, to view pre-generated browse products, and to order specific data products. Users may also request data by letter, telephone, electronic mail (INTERNET), or personal visit.

The Langley DAAC User and Data Services (UDS) staff provides technical and operational support for users ordering data. The Langley DAAC Handbook is available in a postscript file through the IMS for users who want detailed information about the Langley DAAC holdings. Users may also obtain a copy by contacting:

Langley DAAC User and Data Services Office
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 157D
Hampton, Virginia 23681-2199
USA
Telephone: (757) 864-8656
FAX: (757) 864-8807
E-mail: larc@eos.nasa.gov
URL: http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov

NASA - National Aeronautics Space Administration
URL - Uniform Resource Locator

EOSDIS Acronyms.

Document Revision Date:

October 07, 1996; May 28, 1997; November 24, 1997

Document Review Date:

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Document ID:

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Citation:

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Document Curator:

Langley DAAC User and Data Services Office
Telephone: (757) 864-8656
FAX: (757) 864-8807
E-mail: larc@eos.nasa.gov

Document URL:

http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/GUIDE/dataset_documents/base_fire_ci2_class_sonde_dataset.html