The Hydrological Cycle in Mediterranean Experiment (HyMeX) was an International campaign that focused on gaining an understanding of the hydrological cycle in the Mediterranean to better forecast hydrometeorological extremes, such as flash flooding and subsequent landslides, and help mitigate the societal impact of those extremes. Although HyMeX was a multi-year venture, NASA served as a significant participant during SOP-1, which occurred between September and November of 2012. During this time, NASA provided ground instrumentation across several locations while French and German organizations provided airborne and water-based instrumentation. The NASA portion of HyMeX was funded in support of the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM).
The HyMeX campaign actually began in 2010, but NASA only participated during one of the deployments. The information in this inventory may contain some information about the larger HyMeX campaign. The NASA effort is considered part of the Ground Validation activities for the GPM satellite.
The CDP-ROBUST is a combination of the Cloud Droplet Probe (CDP) and the ROBUST TWC probe. It allows for measurements of both particle size concentration/distribution and total liquid water content in the clouds. It was tested and successfully operated during the HyMeX campaign.
The Precipitation and Imaging Probe (PIP) measures the concentration and records images of cloud particles from approximately 500-30000 microns in diameter with a resolution of 100 microns per pixel.
The RAdar SysTem Airborne (RASTA) radar is a 95GHz Doppler radar capable of operating onboard aircraft platforms or on the ground. It consists of a multibeam antenna system with several upward and downward antennas (depending on configuration) that allow for the three-dimensional retrievals of wind profiles above and below aircraft platforms in addition to microphysical properties of clouds and precipitation. RASTA has a vertical resolution of 60 meters, a range of 15 kilometers, and an ambiguous velocity of eight meters per second.
The 2D-Stereo Particle Probe (2D-S) is an in situ airborne optical imaging probe developed by SPEC Inc. The 2D-S uses two diode laser beams to produce stereo cloud particle images through linear array shadowing. Through the imagery, cloud particle size distribution, particle number concentration, and ice/liquid water content can be determined. It has a resolution of 10 µm and can measure hydrometeors in the 25-1280 µm range.
The Cloud Particle Imager (CPI) is an airborne imager manufactured by SPEC Inc. CPI collects high-resolution (2.3 μm pixel size) images of cloud particles that pass through its sample volume. It uses a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera that operates at 810 nm to record images and can take up to 74 frames per second with a refresh rate of 40 Hz. The imagery from CPI can be used to derive microphysical properties such as particle size and habit.
A dropsondes or dropwindsondes are in situ instruments designed to be released from aircraft. They are equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers and sensors to collect profile measurements of pressure, temperature, humidity, wind speed, and direction. Dropsondes are important during field investigations because they allow researchers to collect vertical profiles in remote locations and during severe weather events. Dropsondes typically have a vertical resolution of 5 m and provide measurements of wind speed/direction every 0.25 seconds and temperature, pressure, and humidity every 0.5 seconds.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature
The Conveyable Low-noise Infrared Radiometer for Measurements of Atmosphere and Ground Surface Targets (CLIMAT) radiometer was designed to detect thermal infrared, multispectral bands during field projects on either aircraft or balloons. The incident radiometric signal to the thermopile detector leads to a low noise and weakly temperature dependent output. The CLIMAT radiometer was designed to applied to various studies such as vegetation, cloud-cover, and calibration of satellite-based remote sensing instrumentation.
Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD) sensors are in situ instrument packages that are used to measure water depth, pressure, salinity, temperature, and density in the ocean. CTD sensors can be deployed on various water-based platforms such as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), buoys, gliders, or research vessels. When deployed on a vessel, CTD sensors are typically attached to a rosette and then lowered to the seafloor to measure water properties. CTD sensors have a typical sampling rate of 30 Hz and can collect precise measurements for a specific water depth depending on the researcher's needs.
Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Pressure > Water Pressure
Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/seafloor Topography > Water Depth
Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD) sensors are in situ instrument packages that are used to measure water depth, pressure, salinity, temperature, and density in the ocean. CTD sensors can be deployed on various water-based platforms such as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), buoys, gliders, or research vessels. When deployed on a vessel, CTD sensors are typically attached to a rosette and then lowered to the seafloor to measure water properties. CTD sensors have a typical sampling rate of 30 Hz and can collect precise measurements for a specific water depth depending on the researcher's needs.
Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Pressure > Water Pressure
Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/seafloor Topography > Water Depth
Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD) sensors are in situ instrument packages that are used to measure water depth, pressure, salinity, temperature, and density in the ocean. CTD sensors can be deployed on various water-based platforms such as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), buoys, gliders, or research vessels. When deployed on a vessel, CTD sensors are typically attached to a rosette and then lowered to the seafloor to measure water properties. CTD sensors have a typical sampling rate of 30 Hz and can collect precise measurements for a specific water depth depending on the researcher's needs.
Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Pressure > Water Pressure
Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/seafloor Topography > Water Depth
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature
This data will be added in future versions
Earth Science > >
The Community Aerosol Inlet (CAI) is used to sample aerosols. It flies aboard an aircraft and takes measurements during the flight. CAI instruments are operated by both the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and the National Centre for Meteorological Research (CNRM) in France.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols
a miniature, lightweight, low-power cloud particle spectrometer that measures droplets in the range of 2-50 µm in concentrations as high as 2000 particles/cm3
Earth Science > >
Condensation Particle Counters (CPCs) are in situ sensors that measure aerosol particle concentration. CPCs measure aerosol concentration by condensing fluid onto the particles, allowing them to grow to more detectable sizes for optical scattering. Typically, CPCs can detect particles with a size range of 7 nm-3 μm, can measure particle concentrations up to 100,000 particles/cc, and can provide measurements at 1-second intervals. CPCs are manufactured by TSI Incorporated and can be deployed on airborne, shipborne, and ground-based platforms.
The Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) is an in situ airborne or ground-based aerosol sensor manufactured by TSI Incorporated. SMPS uses a differential mobility analyzer (DMA) to measure the electrical mobility diameter of aerosol particles to determine the size distribution. It also measures the number of aerosol particles by using a condensation particle counter (CNC). It can detect particles within the size range of 10-1000 nm and can provide measurements typically around 10 seconds per scan.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Chemical Composition
The Lidar pour l’Etude des interactions Ae´rosols Nuages Dynamique Rayonnement et du cycle de l’Eau, or LEANDRE II, is a DIAL airborne system that measures water vapor and water vapor mixing ratios in the lower troposphere. It was developed at the Service d’Ae´ronomie in Paris.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Profiles > Water Vapor Mixing Ratio Profiles
The Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) is a spectrometer that measures the chemical composition and properties of sub-micron aerosol particles. AMS has a maximum data collection of 100 Hz and can detect particles with a size range of 40 nm to 1 micron. It operates by switching between mass spectrum (MS) mode and particle time-of-flight (PToF) mode to determine the chemical makeup of aerosol samples. The AMS can be deployed on aircraft, ships, mobile laboratories, or placed directly at a field site.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Chemical Composition
The Optical Particle Counter is an instrument based on the principle of light scattering from particles. It is a real time instrument that is typically used to measure particles above 0.05 μm in diameter.
The Passive-Cavity Aerosol Spectrometer Probe (PCASP) is an in situ airborne optical spectrometer manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It measures the light scattered by particles to determine the aerosol size distribution and concentration in the 0.1 to 3.0 μm size range. PCASP operates at the 632 nm wavelength and has a typical sampling rate of 10 Hz.
The PVM-100 instrument developed by Gerber Scientific conducts particulate volume measurements using a forward-scattering laser spectrometer. A laser is used to measure the forward light scattering within a 3 cubic centimeter volume, and a liquid water content is inferred from the calculated scattering flux of the volume. Droplets in the 3-50 µm Diameter range can be detected with the instrument, and measurements can be taken up to 200 times a second.
The Fast Mobility Particle Sizer (FMPS) spectrometer can measure particle size distributions in the 5.6 to 560 nm range with 32 channels of resolution. By using multiple, low noise electrometers, it can generate a distribution with a frequency as high as every second; making the FMPS a valuable instrument in situations where the aerosol content is rapidly changing. The FMPS designed by TSI Incorporated was designed to be easily transportable and can be configured to collect data continuously for up to 12 hours.
The Condensation Nuclei Counter (CNC) is optical method for
counting atmospheric aerosol particles.
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The Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe (FSSP) is an in situ airborne optical particle counter originally designed by Particle Measuring Systems, Inc. It provides particle size distribution by measuring the intensity of the light scattered by individual particles within the cloud. FSSP can detect particles within a diameter range of 0.5 to 47 μm. It operates at a wavelength of 633 nm and has a typical sampling frequency of 1 Hz.
The Cloud Imaging Probe (CIP) is an in situ airborne optical array probe manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. CIP records cloud particle images by capturing the shadow of the particles as they pass through the laser. It also provides information on the particle size distribution and cloud liquid water content. CIP has a typical resolution of 25 μm and can measure particles in the size range of 12.5 μm - 1.55 mm.
The Particle Soot Absorption Photometer (PSAP) is an in situ airborne photometer manufactured by Radiance Research. It uses Beer's Law to measure the change in light transmission of aerosol particles. These measurements can be used to derive aerosol absorption and extinction. PSAP operates across three wavelengths (467, 530, and 660 nm) and has a temporal resolution of 1 second. It is typically deployed on aircraft, but it can be deployed on other platforms such as ships and vehicles.
The University of Basilicata Lidar System (BASIL) is a ground-based Ramen lidar located in Potenza, Italy. It was developed by the Department of Environmental Engineering and Physics at the University of Basilicata. It provides measurements of atmospheric temperature and water vapor mixing ratio using the rotational Raman lidar technique. BASIL also provides measurements of aerosol backscatter, extinction, and depolarization. It operates across the 355 nm, 532 nm, and 1064 nm wavelengths and can collect measurements during the daytime and nighttime. BASIL has a typical spatial resolution of 30 m and a temporal resolution of 1 minute.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature
An Electric Field Mill (EFM) is an in situ airborne and ground-based electric sensor designed and built at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). It measures the full vector components of the atmospheric electric field and provides details about the electrical structure within and around a storm. EFMs can detect both intracloud and cloud-to-ground lightning and can operate during large thunderstorm fields (thousands of volts/meter). An EFM has a typical time response of about 10 Hz.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Electricity > Electric Field
The Lightning Mapping Array (LMA) is a ground-based network of lightning detection sensors. An LMA network consists of very high frequency (VHF) antennas, GPS receivers, and processing systems that measure the location, time, and structure of total lightning. LMA has a horizontal spatial resolution of approximately 6-12 meters, a vertical resolution of approximately 20-30 meters, and a spatial extent of about 200 km from the network center. It has a typical sampling frequency of 10 µs with around 95% accuracy within 100 km of the network. LMA networks exist in several locations including Oklahoma, New Mexico, North Alabama, West Texas, Colorado, and Southern Ontario.
The UHF Wind Profile is a Doppler radar that uses electromagnetic signals to remotely detect wind speed and direction. It operates at a frequency of 915 MHz and has a radar range of 75-300m. At this frequency, it provides continuous wind profile measurements up to the boundary layer.
X-band radars operate at the frequency of 8-12 GHz. Due to operating at a smaller wavelength, X-band radars are more sensitive and can detect smaller particles compared to other radar bands. X-band radars are typically used for studies about cloud development and light precipitation due to their abilities to detect tiny water particles and snow.
The Two-Dimensional Video Disdrometer (2DVD) is a stationary ground-based optical disdrometer. It is equipped with two line-scan cameras that provide continuous measurements of various precipitation properties such as droplet shape, fall velocity, and size distribution. The 2DVD is capable of accurate measurements for all precipitation particles with a diameter > 0.2 mm, making it well-suited for various precipitation studies.
The Autonomous Parsivel Unit (APU) is an in situ ground-based optical disdrometer. APU measures the size and fall velocity of hydrometeors with a size range of 0-25mm and fall velocities between 0-20 m/s. From these measurements, the drop size distribution, type, intensity, and amount of precipitation can be determined. APU operates in the 650-780 nm wavelength range and has a typical sampling frequency of 10 s.
The Micro Rain Radar (MRR) is a ground-based, vertically pointing, continuous wave K-band (24.23 GHz) radar that measures various parameters of precipitation such as liquid water content and rain rate from near ground level to the lower troposphere. The backscatter received by the MRR’s antenna can measure precipitation size distributions in the range of 0.25 mm to 4.53 mm, as well as calculate the frequency shift of falling precipitation to be used to calculate its velocity. Additional applications of the MRR include locating bright bands, nowcasting precipitation, and capturing chemical transport during precipitation events.
The Dual-frequency Dual-polarized Doppler Radar (D3R) is a mobile Ku-/Ka-band radar that was developed for NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission Ground Validation (GV) program. D3R is an active remote, ground-based sensor that measures radar backscatter to provide reflectivity, Doppler velocity, differential reflectivity, correlation coefficient, and other radar observations. These measurements can be used to derive droplet size distribution and determine hydrometer type. D3R has a beam width of around 0.9 degrees, a maximum range of 30 km, and a gate spacing of 150 m. D3R operates at similar wavelengths as the Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) on the GPM Core satellite and can be used for validation of DPR observations.
A pyrometer is an instrument that measures temperature remotely, i.e. by measuring radiation from the object, without having to be in contact. The KT11 Infrared Radiation Pyrometer provides temperature measurements in the range of -30 to 500 Celsius by intercepting incoming infrared radiation emitted by surfaces. The high stability and noise suppression of the instrument allows for high response times of readings as well as the capability of temperature measurements of small objects. The KT-19II infrared pyrometer was manufactured by Heitronics, and sees a spectrum of 8-12um. The KT-19 is a radiometer that measures the brightness temperature of the surface beneath the aircraft. The KT-19 instrument can estimate the surface temperature by knowing the emissivity of the target. The response time is adjustable from 5 msec, to monitor and control extremely short production cycles, up to 10 minutes, to integrate measurements in long-term thermal processes with an extremely high resolution.
Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Temperature > Sea Surface Temperature
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Skin Temperature
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Top Temperature
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Infrared Wavelengths > Brightness Temperature
This data will be added in future versions.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure
The Lyman-alpha Hygrometer measures the absorption by water vapor of vacuum-ultraviolet light at the Lyman-alpha wavelength of atomic hydrogen (121.6 nm). Air from outside the aircraft is brought to the absorption cell by a forward facing open-ended cone inlet (SCAI inlet) and exhausted through a scarf tube. The instrument ionizes the water molecules themselves as they pass through. Using a high intensity direct current discharge lamp, light at 121.6nm (called Lyman-alpha light) photodissociates water molecules producing excited OH radicals. Fluorescence is produced as the OH radical emits photons at 309nm. Making use of a phototube sensitive to this wavelength and a counter, the amount of OH can be calculated. The ambient air in the sample diminishes this signal by an amount proportional to the mixing ratio, so knowing the ambient pressure and temperature yields the mixing ratio from which the total water is determined. The instrument is periodically calibrated in flight by injecting a known amount of water vapor directly into the sample.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Profiles > Water Vapor Mixing Ratio Profiles
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Vapor Pressure
The Picarro gas concentration analyzer is an in situ airborne or ground-based sensor manufactured by Picarro, Inc. It uses Wavelength-Scanned-Cavity Ring Spectroscopy (WS-CRDS) to measure trace gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and water vapor. For carbon dioxide measurements, the laser within Picarro operates at 1603 nm wavelength and 1651 nm wavelength for methane and water vapor measurements. Picarro has a typical sampling time of 2.5 seconds. Depending on the model, Picarro can also provide measurements of carbon isotopes for gas concentrations.
If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for temperature, pressues, wind speed, wind direction, humidity
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The CG 4 Pyrgeometer was designed for meteorological use to detect downward far-infrared (4.5 - 42 µm) radiation at the surface. The CG 4 is able to provide a voltage within its dome-shaped, 180 degree field of view that is proportional to the net radiation it measures in the far-infrared range that has a low sensitivity to temperature. Output from the instrument can be provided in under eight seconds.
