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First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Marine Stratocumulus Colorado State University (CSU) Tethered Balloon Data

Published by NASA/LARC/SD/ASDC | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | Catalog Last Checked: June 09, 2026 at 09:10 PM | Dataset Last Updated: June 08, 2026
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 was collected from the Colorado State University tethered platform. The balloon was flown during the FIRE Marine Stratocumulus IFO on San Nicolas Island. The data set has been interpolated to the times of the cloud microphysics data, which has a five second interval between points.

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Complete Metadata
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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.This data set was collected from the Colorado State University tethered platform. The balloon was flown during the FIRE Marine Stratocumulus IFO on San Nicolas Island. The data set has been interpolated to the times of the cloud microphysics data, which has a five second interval between points.
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identifier 10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0125
keyword 
                                            [
  "earth-science-atmospheric-pressure-atmosphere-atmospheric-pressure-measurements",
  "earth-science-atmospheric-radiation-atmosphere-solar-irradiance",
  "earth-science-atmospheric-temperature-atmosphere-surface-temperature",
  "earth-science-atmospheric-water-vapor-atmosphere-water-vapor-indicators",
  "earth-science-atmospheric-winds-atmosphere-surface-winds",
  "earth-science-atmospheric-winds-atmosphere-upper-level-winds",
  "earth-science-clouds-atmosphere-cloud-microphysics"
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license https://www.usa.gov/government-works
modified 2026-06-08
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                                            [
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spatial 
                                            "["CARTESIAN"]"
temporal 1987-07-07/1987-07-14
theme 
                                            [
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title First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Marine Stratocumulus Colorado State University (CSU) Tethered Balloon Data

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