Description

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

DOI

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Citation Styles for this Dataset

Resources and Documentation

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Earthdata Forum

DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE

FIRE I-Cirrus Read Software Package - Direct File Download (.tar)

FIRE I-Extended-Time-Observation Read Software Package - Direct File Download (.tar)

FIRE II-ASTEX Read Software Package - Direct File Download (.tar)

FIRE II-Cirrus Read Software Package - Direct File Download (.tar)

FIRE III Read Software Package - Direct File Download (.tar)

VIEW RELATED INFORMATION

DATA CITATION POLICY

• How to cite ASDC data

GENERAL DOCUMENTATION

• ASDC Data and Information for FIRE
• FIRE Marine Stratocumulus Microwave Radiometer Langley DAAC Data Set Document

READ-ME

• FIRE Marine Stratocumulus sample read software and data files - Direct File Download (.ps) Readme
• Instrument Description for microwave radiometer Readme

SCIENCE DATA PRODUCT SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION

• Makefile.fci1 Release: 1.1 Date: 7/29/94
• Reads in NOAA MICROWAVE RADIOMETER data at SAN NICOLAS ISLAND site taken during the FIRE Marine Stratacumulus Experiment - Direct File Download (.c)
• fsdf_lib Program for reading FIRE Cirrus I, Cirrus II, and MS data sets - Direct File Download (.c)

Keywords

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