The Atmospheric Radiation Measurements Enhanced Shortwave Experiment (ARESE) was a joint effort between NASA and the Department of Energy (DoE) to investigate the absorption of solar radiation in the atmosphere. ARESE conducted two deployments over the Southern Great Plains during the spring and fall of 1995 and 2000. During these periods, airborne and ground measurements of various radiative properties were collected on clear and cloudy days to assess the accuracy of modeled atmospheric absorption of solar radiation. ARESE was funded through NASA, DoE, and the Department of Defense (DoD).
The Cloud Lidar System (CLS) was an airborne lidar system that operated on the ER-2 aircraft. It measured lidar backscatter to determine the height structure of clouds, cloud thickness, and other cloud properties. CLS was also used to determine aerosol properties. It used a Nd-YAG operating at 1064 and 532 nm and had a pulse repetition frequency of 10 Hz. CLS had a horizontal resolution of 20 m and a vertical sampling resolution of 7.5 m.
The Total Direct Diffuse Radiometer (TDDR) is a passive radiometer that measures solar irradiance. It can be used for airborne and ground-based operations. TDDR measures total and diffuse irradiance by rotating a shadow arm before the radiometer. These measurements can be used to calculate the direct solar irradiance. TDDR operates across the 0.38-1.6 μm spectral range with a 0.01 μm bandwidth.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Irradiance
The MODIS Airborne Simulator (MAS) is an airborne multispectral spectrometer designed to simulate the satellite instrument Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS). MAS operates over 50 spectral channels in the 0.55 to 14.2 μm range, providing high-resolution images of clouds and surface features. It has a horizontal spatial resolution of 50 meters and a swath width of about 36 kilometers at an altitude of 20 km at nadir. Its scan rate is 6.25 Hz, with each scan line containing 716 pixels.
The Fractional Solar Broadband Radiometer (FSBR) is an airborne broadband radiometer that is typically used as part of the Radiation Measurement System (RAMS) instrument suite. It measures fractional downwelling shortwave radiation. FSBR covers a portion of the near-infrared spectrum between 0.68 and 3.3 µm and has a data frequency of 9 Hz. FSBR can be deployed on ground-based platforms as well and is a complementary instrument to the Total Solar Broadband Radiometer (TSBR).
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Irradiance
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Radiation
The Radiation Measurement System (RAMS) is an airborne passive radiometer that measures broadband solar irradiance. RAMS includes two radiometers: the Total Solar Broadband Radiometer (TSBR) and the Fractional Solar Broadband Radiometer (FSBR). The TSBR operates in the 0.224 to 3.91 μm range, while the FSBR operates between 0.68 and 3.3 μm. It has a response time of approximately 60 milliseconds and can provide measurements every 5 meters for aircraft speeds around 75 m/s. RAMS is primarily used for airborne operations but can also be used to collect ground-based measurements.
The Total Direct Diffuse Radiometer (TDDR) is a passive radiometer that measures solar irradiance. It can be used for airborne and ground-based operations. TDDR measures total and diffuse irradiance by rotating a shadow arm before the radiometer. These measurements can be used to calculate the direct solar irradiance. TDDR operates across the 0.38-1.6 μm spectral range with a 0.01 μm bandwidth.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Irradiance
The Fractional Solar Broadband Radiometer (FSBR) is an airborne broadband radiometer that is typically used as part of the Radiation Measurement System (RAMS) instrument suite. It measures fractional downwelling shortwave radiation. FSBR covers a portion of the near-infrared spectrum between 0.68 and 3.3 µm and has a data frequency of 9 Hz. FSBR can be deployed on ground-based platforms as well and is a complementary instrument to the Total Solar Broadband Radiometer (TSBR).
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Irradiance
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Radiation
The Radiation Measurement System (RAMS) is an airborne passive radiometer that measures broadband solar irradiance. RAMS includes two radiometers: the Total Solar Broadband Radiometer (TSBR) and the Fractional Solar Broadband Radiometer (FSBR). The TSBR operates in the 0.224 to 3.91 μm range, while the FSBR operates between 0.68 and 3.3 μm. It has a response time of approximately 60 milliseconds and can provide measurements every 5 meters for aircraft speeds around 75 m/s. RAMS is primarily used for airborne operations but can also be used to collect ground-based measurements.
The Scanning Spectral Polarimeter (SSP) is an airborne polarimeter developed by Colorado State University. It uses a rotating optical bandpass filter to measure spectral radiance and fluxes across the 400 to 4000 nm wavelength range. These measurements help to determine cloud optical and microphysical properties. SSP has an accuracy of about 3% and a field of view of 20 mrad.
The Total Direct Diffuse Radiometer (TDDR) is a passive radiometer that measures solar irradiance. It can be used for airborne and ground-based operations. TDDR measures total and diffuse irradiance by rotating a shadow arm before the radiometer. These measurements can be used to calculate the direct solar irradiance. TDDR operates across the 0.38-1.6 μm spectral range with a 0.01 μm bandwidth.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Irradiance
The Fractional Solar Broadband Radiometer (FSBR) is an airborne broadband radiometer that is typically used as part of the Radiation Measurement System (RAMS) instrument suite. It measures fractional downwelling shortwave radiation. FSBR covers a portion of the near-infrared spectrum between 0.68 and 3.3 µm and has a data frequency of 9 Hz. FSBR can be deployed on ground-based platforms as well and is a complementary instrument to the Total Solar Broadband Radiometer (TSBR).
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Irradiance
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Radiation
The Radiation Measurement System (RAMS) is an airborne passive radiometer that measures broadband solar irradiance. RAMS includes two radiometers: the Total Solar Broadband Radiometer (TSBR) and the Fractional Solar Broadband Radiometer (FSBR). The TSBR operates in the 0.224 to 3.91 μm range, while the FSBR operates between 0.68 and 3.3 μm. It has a response time of approximately 60 milliseconds and can provide measurements every 5 meters for aircraft speeds around 75 m/s. RAMS is primarily used for airborne operations but can also be used to collect ground-based measurements.
Ozonesondes are in situ balloon-borne instruments used to measure ozone concentration profiles. An ozonesonde consists of an electrochemical ozone sensor connected with a meteorological radiosonde to collect ozone, temperature, pressure, and humidity measurements as it ascends through the atmosphere. It provides ozone profile measurements at a resolution of 100 to 150 m. Ozonesondes have a typical measurement rate of 0.1 Hz and can collect profiles up to around 35 km.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Profiles
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Upper Air Temperature > Vertical Profiles
The Radio Acoustic Sounding System (RASS) is an active ground-based acoustic sounder that provides profiles of virtual temperature. It uses radar techniques to measure acoustic disturbances to derive the virtual temperature. They are typically used together with radar wind profilers (RWPs) and operate at frequencies of 915 MHz and 1290 MHz. RASS has a sampling rate of about 5 to 15 minutes, a vertical resolution of 150 m, and a horizontal resolution of 60 m.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Boundary Layer Temperature
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Upper Air Temperature > Vertical Profiles
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Upper Air Temperature > Virtual Temperature
Generic-Atmospheric State (Gen-AtmsState) refers to non-specific instruments on a platform used for measurements of atmospheric state parameters. These are typically in situ sensors that measure temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind speed/direction. Types of atmospheric state instruments include thermometers, hygrometers, barometers, and anemometers.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Humidity
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Air Temperature
The Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) Wind Profiler is a ground-based Doppler radar. It measures electromagnetic signals to detect wind speed and direction. UHF Wind Profilers operate at the 300-1000 MHz frequency range. Due to operating at a high frequency, they allow for high-resolution wind measurements within the boundary layer.
The microwave radiometers (MWRs) are ground-based radiometers manufactured by Radiometrics Corporation and operated by the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Research Facility. MWR measures brightness temperature at 23.8 and 31.4 GHz to determine the column amounts of water vapor and liquid water in the atmosphere. MWR has a field of view (FOV) ranging from about 5.9 to 4.5 degrees depending on the channel and typically has a time resolution of 20 seconds for sky-view observations.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Water Vapor
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Microwave > Brightness Temperature
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
W-band radars are highly sensitive radars used for atmospheric research. They operate around the 94-95 GHz frequency band, allowing for the detection of small water droplets. W-band radars are used for cloud and precipitation studies since they can provide more detailed observations than typical weather radars. They can be deployed on research vessels, aircraft, and mobile ground-based platforms.
The Micropulse Lidar (MPL) is a ground-based lidar system used for cloud detection. It measures lidar backscatter at 532 nm to retrieve cloud properties such as cloud top and base height. It can also be used for the detection of aerosols. MPL has a vertical resolution of 15 m and a maximum range of 18 km. MPL can operate autonomously and typically provides 10-second averaged data.
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Lidar > Lidar Depolarization Ratio
The Total Direct Diffuse Radiometer (TDDR) is a passive radiometer that measures solar irradiance. It can be used for airborne and ground-based operations. TDDR measures total and diffuse irradiance by rotating a shadow arm before the radiometer. These measurements can be used to calculate the direct solar irradiance. TDDR operates across the 0.38-1.6 μm spectral range with a 0.01 μm bandwidth.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Irradiance
The Multifilter Rotating Shadowband Radiometer (MFRSR) is a ground-based passive radiometer used to measure the global and diffuse components of solar irradiance. It measures solar irradiance across six narrowband channels and one broadband channel. The nominal wavelengths of the narrowband channels are 415, 500, 615, 673, 870, and 940 nm. MFRSR has a typical sampling interval of 20 seconds and takes measurements at four different shadowband positions: nadir, first side-band, sun-blocked, and second side-band. MFRSR is deployed across several of the Department of Energy ’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility sites.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Irradiance
The Fractional Solar Broadband Radiometer (FSBR) is an airborne broadband radiometer that is typically used as part of the Radiation Measurement System (RAMS) instrument suite. It measures fractional downwelling shortwave radiation. FSBR covers a portion of the near-infrared spectrum between 0.68 and 3.3 µm and has a data frequency of 9 Hz. FSBR can be deployed on ground-based platforms as well and is a complementary instrument to the Total Solar Broadband Radiometer (TSBR).
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Irradiance
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Radiation
The Radiation Measurement System (RAMS) is an airborne passive radiometer that measures broadband solar irradiance. RAMS includes two radiometers: the Total Solar Broadband Radiometer (TSBR) and the Fractional Solar Broadband Radiometer (FSBR). The TSBR operates in the 0.224 to 3.91 μm range, while the FSBR operates between 0.68 and 3.3 μm. It has a response time of approximately 60 milliseconds and can provide measurements every 5 meters for aircraft speeds around 75 m/s. RAMS is primarily used for airborne operations but can also be used to collect ground-based measurements.
The Scanning Spectral Polarimeter (SSP) is an airborne polarimeter developed by Colorado State University. It uses a rotating optical bandpass filter to measure spectral radiance and fluxes across the 400 to 4000 nm wavelength range. These measurements help to determine cloud optical and microphysical properties. SSP has an accuracy of about 3% and a field of view of 20 mrad.
The Fractional Solar Broadband Radiometer (FSBR) is an airborne broadband radiometer that is typically used as part of the Radiation Measurement System (RAMS) instrument suite. It measures fractional downwelling shortwave radiation. FSBR covers a portion of the near-infrared spectrum between 0.68 and 3.3 µm and has a data frequency of 9 Hz. FSBR can be deployed on ground-based platforms as well and is a complementary instrument to the Total Solar Broadband Radiometer (TSBR).
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Irradiance
The Total Direct Diffuse Radiometer (TDDR) is a passive radiometer that measures solar irradiance. It can be used for airborne and ground-based operations. TDDR measures total and diffuse irradiance by rotating a shadow arm before the radiometer. These measurements can be used to calculate the direct solar irradiance. TDDR operates across the 0.38-1.6 μm spectral range with a 0.01 μm bandwidth.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Irradiance
The Airborne Cloud Radar (ACR) is an airborne W-band millimeter-wave cloud radar developed by the University of Massachusetts and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). ACR measures reflectivity and is used for profiling cloud vertical structures. It operates at a frequency of 95 GHz and has a beam width of 0.8 degrees. ACR has a range resolution of 38 m, 75 m, or 150 m.
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Radar > Return Power
The Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe (FSSP) is an in situ airborne optical particle counter initially developed by Particle Measuring Systems, Inc. It determines particle size distribution by measuring the light intensity scattered by individual particles within the cloud. FSSP can detect particles ranging from 0.5 to 47 μm in diameter. It functions at a wavelength of 633 nm and typically samples at a rate of 1 Hz.
The Radiation Measurement System (RAMS) is an airborne passive radiometer that measures broadband solar irradiance. RAMS includes two radiometers: the Total Solar Broadband Radiometer (TSBR) and the Fractional Solar Broadband Radiometer (FSBR). The TSBR operates in the 0.224 to 3.91 μm range, while the FSBR operates between 0.68 and 3.3 μm. It has a response time of approximately 60 milliseconds and can provide measurements every 5 meters for aircraft speeds around 75 m/s. RAMS is primarily used for airborne operations but can also be used to collect ground-based measurements.
The microwave radiometers (MWRs) are ground-based radiometers manufactured by Radiometrics Corporation and operated by the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Research Facility. MWR measures brightness temperature at 23.8 and 31.4 GHz to determine the column amounts of water vapor and liquid water in the atmosphere. MWR has a field of view (FOV) ranging from about 5.9 to 4.5 degrees depending on the channel and typically has a time resolution of 20 seconds for sky-view observations.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Water Vapor
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Microwave > Brightness Temperature
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
The Millimeter-Wavelength Cloud Radar (MMCR) is a ground-based radar developed by the NOAA Environmental Technology Laboratory (ETL) for the Department of Energy (DoE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) sites. MMCR provides long-term observations of radar reflectivity, Doppler velocity, spectrum width, and other radar parameters for precipitating and nonprecipitating clouds up to 20 km above ground level (AGL). It is a vertically pointing, single-polarization radar system that operates at around 35 GHz. MMCR has a beamwidth of 0.2 degrees and typical vertical resolutions of 45 and 90 meters.
The Total Direct Diffuse Radiometer (TDDR) is a passive radiometer that measures solar irradiance. It can be used for airborne and ground-based operations. TDDR measures total and diffuse irradiance by rotating a shadow arm before the radiometer. These measurements can be used to calculate the direct solar irradiance. TDDR operates across the 0.38-1.6 μm spectral range with a 0.01 μm bandwidth.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Irradiance
The Multifilter Rotating Shadowband Radiometer (MFRSR) is a ground-based passive radiometer used to measure the global and diffuse components of solar irradiance. It measures solar irradiance across six narrowband channels and one broadband channel. The nominal wavelengths of the narrowband channels are 415, 500, 615, 673, 870, and 940 nm. MFRSR has a typical sampling interval of 20 seconds and takes measurements at four different shadowband positions: nadir, first side-band, sun-blocked, and second side-band. MFRSR is deployed across several of the Department of Energy’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility sites.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Irradiance
The Fractional Solar Broadband Radiometer (FSBR) is an airborne broadband radiometer that is typically used as part of the Radiation Measurement System (RAMS) instrument suite. It measures fractional downwelling shortwave radiation. FSBR covers a portion of the near-infrared spectrum between 0.68 and 3.3 µm and has a data frequency of 9 Hz. FSBR can be deployed on ground-based platforms as well and is a complementary instrument to the Total Solar Broadband Radiometer (TSBR).
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Irradiance
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Radiation
The Radiation Measurement System (RAMS) is an airborne passive radiometer that measures broadband solar irradiance. RAMS includes two radiometers: the Total Solar Broadband Radiometer (TSBR) and the Fractional Solar Broadband Radiometer (FSBR). The TSBR operates in the 0.224 to 3.91 μm range, while the FSBR operates between 0.68 and 3.3 μm. It has a response time of approximately 60 milliseconds and can provide measurements every 5 meters for aircraft speeds around 75 m/s. RAMS is primarily used for airborne operations but can also be used to collect ground-based measurements.
