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Cloud Physics LiDAR (CPL) IMPACTS

Published by NASA/MSFC/GHRC | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | Catalog Last Checked: May 18, 2026 at 04:24 PM | Dataset Last Updated: May 11, 2026
The Cloud Physics LiDAR (CPL) IMPACTS dataset consists of backscatter coefficient, lidar depolarization ratio, layer top/base height, layer type, particulate extinction coefficient, ice water content, and layer/cumulative optical depth data collected from the Cloud Physics LiDAR (CPL) onboard the NASA ER-2 high-altitude research aircraft in support of the Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Snowstorms (IMPACTS) field campaign. IMPACTS was a three-year sequence of winter season deployments conducted to study snowstorms over the U.S. Atlantic Coast (2020-2023). The campaign aimed to (1) Provide observations critical to understanding the mechanisms of snowband formation, organization, and evolution; (2) Examine how the microphysical characteristics and likely growth mechanisms of snow particles vary across snowbands; and (3) Improve snowfall remote sensing interpretation and modeling to significantly advance prediction capabilities. The dataset files are available in HDF-5 format from January 15, 2020, through March 2, 2023.

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Complete Metadata
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accessLevel public
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description The Cloud Physics LiDAR (CPL) IMPACTS dataset consists of backscatter coefficient, lidar depolarization ratio, layer top/base height, layer type, particulate extinction coefficient, ice water content, and layer/cumulative optical depth data collected from the Cloud Physics LiDAR (CPL) onboard the NASA ER-2 high-altitude research aircraft in support of the Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Snowstorms (IMPACTS) field campaign. IMPACTS was a three-year sequence of winter season deployments conducted to study snowstorms over the U.S. Atlantic Coast (2020-2023). The campaign aimed to (1) Provide observations critical to understanding the mechanisms of snowband formation, organization, and evolution; (2) Examine how the microphysical characteristics and likely growth mechanisms of snow particles vary across snowbands; and (3) Improve snowfall remote sensing interpretation and modeling to significantly advance prediction capabilities. The dataset files are available in HDF-5 format from January 15, 2020, through March 2, 2023.
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identifier 10.5067/IMPACTS/CPL/DATA101
keyword 
                                            [
  "earth-science-aerosols-atmosphere-aerosol-backscatter",
  "earth-science-atmospheric-radiation-atmosphere-optical-depth-thickness",
  "earth-science-lidar-spectral-engineering-lidar-depolarization-ratio"
]
license https://www.usa.gov/government-works
modified 2026-05-11
programCode 
                                            [
  "026:000"
]
publisher 
                                            {
  "name": "NASA/MSFC/GHRC",
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spatial 
                                            "["CARTESIAN",[{"NorthBoundingCoordinate":48.657,"WestBoundingCoordinate":-117.23,"EastBoundingCoordinate":-64.894,"SouthBoundingCoordinate":26.907}]]"
temporal 2020-01-15/2023-03-02
theme 
                                            [
  "Earth Science"
]
title Cloud Physics LiDAR (CPL) IMPACTS

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