First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Cirrus Phase II NCAR Kingair Aircraft 2D Probe 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 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. The PMS 2D-C and 2D-P probes illuminate a linear array of photodiodes with a He-Ne laser. As a particle passes through this focused beam, a shadow image is cast on the diodes and a count of the total number of occulted diodes represents the particle size. The data are organized on a single flight basis, for both the King Air and the Sabreliner. Relevant portions of the header from the raw binary files are included. Each data file contains processed concentration data based on habit type and area ratio.