First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Sabreliner Aircraft 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 (July 1 - July 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 document provides information for the following data sets:

• FIRE_CI1_SABRELINER
• FIRE_CI2_SABRELINER

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_CI1_SABRELINER:	First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Cirrus 1 National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Sabreliner Aircraft Data (FIRE_CI1_SABRELINER)
FIRE_CI2_SABRELINER:	First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Cirrus 2 National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Sabreliner Aircraft Data (FIRE_CI2_SABRELINER)

FIRE_CI1_SABRELINER
Cirrus IFO-I was conducted from October 13 to November 2, 1986 in central Wisconsin. The NCAR Sabreliner aircraft measured radiation and microphysical properties of the cloud layers, in addition to temperature, moisture, and air motions.

FIRE_CI2_SABRELINER
Cirrus IFO-II was conducted from November 9 to December 8, 1991 in Coffeyville, Kansas. The NCAR Sabreliner aircraft measured radiation and microphysical properties of the cloud layers, in addition to temperature, moisture, and air motions.

FIRE_CI1_SABRELINER:	Larry Miloshevich National Center for Atmospheric Research MMM Division P.O. Box 3000 Boulder, CO 80307-3000 USA Phone: (303) 497-8963 E-mail: milo@ncar.ucar.edu
FIRE_CI2_SABRELINER:	Andrew J. Heymsfield National Center for Atmospheric Research MMM Division P.O. Box 3000 Boulder, CO 80307-3000 USA Phone: (303) 497-8943 Email: heyms@mmm.ncar.edu

FIRE_CI1_SABRELINER:	Humidity Ice Irradiance Mixing Ratio Pressure Temperature Wind Direction Wind Speed
FIRE_CI2_SABRELINER:	Humidity Ice Irradiance Pressure Temperature Wind Direction Wind Speed

Data Set Name	Min Lat	Max Lat	Min Lon	Max Lon
FIRE_CI1_SABRELINER	13.72	47.20	-96.99	-84.53
FIRE_CI2_SABRELINER	27.08	38.95	-99.25	-92.67

Data Set Name	Begin Date	End Date
FIRE_CI1_SABRELINER	10-13-1986	11-02-1986
FIRE_CI2_SABRELINER	11-17-1991	12-07-1991

FIRE_CI1_SABRELINER
Each of the 18 Sabreliner data files has 106 variables. Each variable is defined as a 4 bytes unsigned integer. The unsigned integer values have to be converted to real numbers for correct reading. Usually the variables are sampled at 1 Hz per second (per genpro cycle), but some variables are sampled at higher rate. The sample read routine automatically retrieves the information for all defined parameters, and interprets the binary data accordingly.

FIRE_CI2_SABRELINER
Each of the 19 Sabreliner data files has 106 variables. Each variable is defined as a 4 bytes unsigned integer. The unsigned integer values have to be converted to real numbers for correct reading. Usually the variables are sampled at 1 Hz per second (per genpro cycle), but some variables are sampled at higher rate. The sample read routine automatically retrieves the information for all defined parameters, and interprets the binary data accordingly.

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

FIRE_CI1_SABRELINER:
The Sabreliner data set has 18 header-data-file pairs for 18 flights. Each flight is named ci1_aircraft_flt#_flighttime, where "aircraft" is 'sa' to Sabreliner, flight# is ranging from 01 through 18 for Sabreliner. Flight 2, 5, 7, 10, 12, 13, and 14 have a and b. "flighttime" has the format of yymmdd to indicate the date of the flight, e.g., ci1_sa_flt02a_861015. The flight name is the same as granule name. The header files are named granule_name.hdr, and the data files are named granule_name.dat.

FIRE_CI2_SABRELINER:
The Sabreliner data set has 19 header-data-file pairs for 17 flights, among which flight 6 has three header-data-file pairs. Each flight is named ci2_aircraft_flt#_flighttime, where "aircraft" is 'sa' to Sabreliner, flight# is ranging from 01 through 17 for Sabreliner (flight 6 numbers are 06a, 06b, and 06c), and "flighttime" has the format of yymmdd to indicate the date of the flight, e.g., ci2_sa_flt02_911118. The flight name is the same as granule name. The header files are named granule_name.hdr, and the data files are named granule_name.dat.

A header file contains the variable names (or called parameters), and the information regarding sampling rate, scale factors, data size, etc. for the parameters. The data file contains data values of parameters over a specified time period.

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

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

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 dataset 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

Heymsfield, A.J., et al., 1990. "The 27-28 October 1986 FIRE IFO Cirrus Case Study: Cloud Microstructure," Monthly Weather Review, 118, 2313-2328.

Cox, et al., 1987. "FIRE - The First ISCCP Regional Experiment," Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 68, 114-118.

Starr, D.O'C., 1987. "A Cirrus-Cloud Experiment: Intensive Field Observations Planned for FIRE," Bull. Am. Met. Soc., 68, 119-124.

FIRE Cirrus Intensive Field Observations (IFO) 1986 Operations Plan, October 1986.

Sorlie, S., February 1993. "Langley DAAC Handbook." NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia.

NASA - National Aeronautics Space Administration
URL - Uniform Resource Locator

EOSDIS Acronyms.

Document Revision Date:

October 23, 1996; May 28, 1997; November 24, 1997

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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_sabreliner_dataset.html