First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Cirrus Phase II Colorado State University (CSU) Rawinsonde Data

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 (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.The CSU sonde data were generated in support of the FIRE Phase II Cirrus observation field experiment held in Coffeyville, Kansas during the period from 13 Nov. to 06 Dec. 1991 at the Parsons KG&E Power Plant. The data were collected at 37 deg. 18 min. N and 95 deg. 07 min. W, with a vertical resolution usually of roughly 5-10 m. They were provided to allow a calculation of an approximate location of the sonde.