First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Cirrus Phase II Mesoscale Analysis and Prediction System

FIRE_CI2_MAPS is the First ISCCP (International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project) Regional Experiment (FIRE) Cirrus Phase II Mesoscale Analysis and Prediction System data product. This product was designed to improve data products and cloud/radiation parameterizations used in general circulation models (GCMs). Specifically, the goals of FIRE were 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 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.MAPS refers to both a data analysis system and a numerical forecast model developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Forecast Systems Laboratory (FSL). The analysis system combines profiler, ACARS, surface and radiosonde data with the previous 3 hour MAPS model forecast to generate an analysis every 3 hours. The parameters available are Pressure, Montgomery Streamfunction, Virtual Potential Temperature, Condensation Pressure, and Wind Speed.