The Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA COARE) was a field campaign conducted by NSF, NOAA, ONR, and NASA. TOGA COARE aimed to understand the role of warm-pool regions in the tropics and processes of the tropical-ocean-atmosphere system. TOGA COARE consisted of one deployment from November 1992 to February 1993 over the Western Pacific Ocean. NASA ER-2 and DC-8 were equipped with remote sensing sensors to collect observations of precipitation and meteorological parameters over the tropics. Additional aircraft, sounding, ship, and buoy observations were also collected. NASA was only a significant participant in TOGA COARE.
The Airborne Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (AMMR) was a remote passive, airborne microwave radiometer. It measured thermal microwave emissions in terms of brightness temperature. AMMR consisted of an array of radiometers that operated at the following frequencies: 10, 18.7, 21, 37, and 92 GHz. It had a typical sampling rate of 1 second and a spatial resolution of 1-2 km at the surface.
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Microwave > Brightness 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
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 NOAA Frost Point Hygrometer (FPH) is a balloon-borne sensor that collects profile measurements of atmospheric water vapor. It uses the chilled-mirror principle to measure the frost or dew point temperature up to 28 km in the atmosphere. FPH takes measurements at a vertical resolution of 5-10 m and a temporal resolution of 1-2 seconds.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Profiles
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Dew Point Temperature
The Rosemount Icing Detector (RICE) is an in situ airborne probe manufactured by Rosemount Inc. It is a magnetostrictive oscillation probe that detects changes in the frequency of oscillation due to ice buildup on the sensing cylinder. These changes in frequency can be related to the rate of ice accretion, which can be used to derive liquid water content. RICE has a typical sampling rate of 1 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 Lyman-alpha Hygrometer is an in situ hygrometer that can be deployed on airborne or ground-based platforms. It measures water vapor absorption at the Lyman-alpha wavelength (121.6 nm) of atomic hydrogen to determine the total water in the atmosphere. It has a detection limit of 0.1 ppmv and a typical data rate of 1 second. The Lyman-alpha hygrometer provides water vapor measurements with an accuracy of 6% and a precision of 5%.
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 > Total Precipitable Water
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
The Airborne Microwave Moisture Sounder (AMMS) is an airborne microwave radiometer developed at Georgia Tech. It operates across four channels (92, 174, 178, and 181 GHz) to measure brightness temperature during precipitation events. AMMS has an angular resolution of 2 degrees at 92 GHz and 1 degree at 183 GHz. It scans over an angular range of 45 degrees about nadir and has a total scan time of 4 seconds.
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Microwave > Brightness Temperature
The Electronically Scanned Microwave Radiometer (ESMR) is an airborne scanning microwave radiometer. It measures brightness temperature at the 19.35 GHz frequency. It is nadir-mounted on the aircraft and has a swath of 50 degrees from nadir. ESMR has an integration time of 2 seconds and a beam width of 2.8 degrees. ESMR is typically used for airborne microwave measurements of precipitation in tropical storms
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Microwave > Brightness Temperature
The Airborne Rain Mapping Radar (ARMAR) is an airborne Ku-band Doppler radar developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It was developed to simulate Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite mission for algorithm development and calibration. ARMAR operates at the 13.8 GHz frequency to measure the return power of microwave energy to calculate the velocity and reflectivity. It also can be operated as a radiometer to measure brightness temperature. ARMAR typically scan across track at 20 degrees angles, but also has the ability to operate at a fixed angle. ARMAR has a horizontal resolution of 800m and a swath width of 9km at flight altitude of 12km.
The Enhanced MODIS Airborne Simulator (eMAS) is an airborne cross-track scanning spectrometer operated by the Airborne Sensor Facility (ASF) at NASA Ames Research Center. eMAS collects high-resolution imagery of cloud and surface features which can be used to help develop and test algorithms for MODIS satellite observations. It operates across 38 spectral channels at 0.445-14.1 µm wavelengths and has a scan rate of 6.25 Hz. eMAS has a spatial resolution of 50 m and a swath width of 37.25 km at an altitude of 20 km.
The Advanced Microwave Precipitation Radiometer (AMPR) is an airborne passive microwave radiometer. AMPR provides calibrated brightness temperature, which can be used to derive cloud and precipitation properties. It operates across four microwave channels: 10.7, 19.35, 37.1, and 85.5 GHz. These frequencies are sensitive to precipitation, thus making AMPR well-suited for rain event studies.
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Microwave > Brightness Temperature
The Millimeter-wave Imaging Radiometer (MIR) was a passive airborne cross-track scanning radiometer developed by NASA. MIR measured brightness temperature across nine channels and was used for clouds, precipitation, and atmospheric water vapor studies. MIR operated near and around the following frequencies: 89, 150, 183, 220, and 325 GHz. It had an angular swath of 100 degrees and a sampling frequency of 3 seconds. MIR typically operated on NASA ER-2 aircraft before its retirement.
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Infrared Wavelengths > Brightness Temperature
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Microwave > Brightness Temperature
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor
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
Generic-Radiometers refer to non-specific radiometers on a platform. These are typically passive microwave radiometers that measure brightness temperature. Radiometers can be used to retrieve temperature and water vapor profiles, soil moisture content, ocean salinity, precipitation and cloud properties, and vegetation.
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Microwave > Brightness Temperature
Radiosondes are a balloon-borne instrument package used to collect profile measurements of pressure, temperature, humidity, and winds. These sensors are connected to a radio transmitter that sends the measurements to a ground receiver typically operating in the 400-406 MHz range. They typically provide measurements at 1-6 seconds, depending on the type and manufacturer of the radiosonde. Radiosondes are used for weather forecasting, ground truth satellite data, atmospheric research, and input for weather prediction models.
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Profiles
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
Rain gauges are ground-based instruments that provide in situ measurements of liquid precipitation amounts over a set time. There are multiple types of rain gauges that each collect and record data differently such as the tipping bucket rain gauge and weighing precipitation gauge. Rain gauges can be deployed in various locations due to their relatively small size and easy set-up and are typically colocated with other precipitation instruments such as disdrometers to provide more details about precipitation being collected such as precipitation rate and size distribution.
The Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) is an in situ acoustic sensor used to measure ocean currents. ADCP uses the Doppler effect to detect sound waves to provide measurements of the speed and direction of currents throughout the water column. ADCP can easily be mounted on different water platforms such as ships, buoys, and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). It also can be deployed on the seafloor to provide profile measurements of ocean currents.
A pyrgeometer is a ground-based or airborne passive radiation sensor. It measures downward and upward longwave radiation in the 4-50 μm spectral range. Pyrgeometers measure changes in resistance/voltage using a thermopile sensor to determine longwave radiation. These measurements can be used to calculate the infrared radiation flux. Pyrgeometers are typically used for climatological, meteorological, and agricultural applications.
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
A pyrgeometer is a ground-based or airborne passive radiation sensor. It measures downward and upward longwave radiation in the 4-50 μm spectral range. Pyrgeometers measure changes in resistance/voltage using a thermopile sensor to determine longwave radiation. These measurements can be used to calculate the infrared radiation flux. Pyrgeometers are typically used for climatological, meteorological, and agricultural applications.
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 Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) is an in situ acoustic sensor used to measure ocean currents. ADCP uses the Doppler effect to detect sound waves to provide measurements of the speed and direction of currents throughout the water column. ADCP can easily be mounted on different water platforms such as ships, buoys, and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). It also can be deployed on the seafloor to provide profile measurements of ocean currents.
A pyrgeometer is a ground-based or airborne passive radiation sensor. It measures downward and upward longwave radiation in the 4-50 μm spectral range. Pyrgeometers measure changes in resistance/voltage using a thermopile sensor to determine longwave radiation. These measurements can be used to calculate the infrared radiation flux. Pyrgeometers are typically used for climatological, meteorological, and agricultural applications.
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
A pyrgeometer is a ground-based or airborne passive radiation sensor. It measures downward and upward longwave radiation in the 4-50 μm spectral range. Pyrgeometers measure changes in resistance/voltage using a thermopile sensor to determine longwave radiation. These measurements can be used to calculate the infrared radiation flux. Pyrgeometers are typically used for climatological, meteorological, and agricultural applications.
A thermosalinograph (TSG) is an in situ shipborne instrument used to measure sea surface temperature and conductivity. TSGs are typically mounted near the ship’s seawater intake where they collect continuous measurements. A TSG uses a conductivity cell and a thermistor cell to measure conductivity and temperature from underway vessels. These measurements can be used to derive salinity and other ocean parameters.
Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Temperature > Sea Surface 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 Lower Fuselage (LF) Radar is an airborne radar system that operates on the lower fuselage of the NOAA P-3 aircraft used by the Hurricane Research Division. It measures radar reflectivity, Doppler velocity, and other radar parameters to characterize tropical storms and precipitation. It operates at the 5370 MHz frequency and has a horizontal beamwidth of 1.1 degrees. The LF Radar has a maximum ambiguous range of 750 km and a pulse repetition frequency of 200 Hz.
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
Generic-Radiometers refer to non-specific radiometers on a platform. These are typically passive microwave radiometers that measure brightness temperature. Radiometers can be used to retrieve temperature and water vapor profiles, soil moisture content, ocean salinity, precipitation and cloud properties, and vegetation.
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Microwave > Brightness Temperature
This data will be added in future versions
Earth Science > >
If instrument model information is not available, can use this instrument entry for microphysics probes
A pyrgeometer is a ground-based or airborne passive radiation sensor. It measures downward and upward longwave radiation in the 4-50 μm spectral range. Pyrgeometers measure changes in resistance/voltage using a thermopile sensor to determine longwave radiation. These measurements can be used to calculate the infrared radiation flux. Pyrgeometers are typically used for climatological, meteorological, and agricultural applications.
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.
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 Condensation Nuclei Counter (CNC) is optical method for
counting atmospheric aerosol particles.
Earth Science > >
The King Probe is an airborne cloud probe developed by Warren King (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) and manufactured by Particle Measuring Systems (PMS) and Droplet Measurement Technologies (DMT). The King Probe provides measurements of cloud liquid water content (LWC) by measuring the heat released when water droplets are vaporized. The King Probe operates at a constant temperature (~100 C) and has a data output rate of 1 to 10 Hz. It is typically used in cloud microphysics and aircraft icing studies.
The 2D-C/P Hydrometeor Imaging Probe (2D-C/P) is an in situ, airborne instrument that captures imagery of hydrometeors. It collects these images by recording the status (illuminated or shadowed) of the photodiode array as the shadow of the hydrometeors passes over. 2D-C/P also provides measurements of particle size distribution, cloud droplet concentration, and hydrometeor shape. Typically, 2D-C/P probes have an image resolution of 25 micrometers and can image hydrometeors with diameters up to 1600 micrometers.
The ELectra DOppler RAdar (ELDORA) is an airborne radar system developed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and France's Centre de Recherches en Physique de L'Environnement Terrestre et Planetaire (CRPE). It was designed to operate on the NCAR Electra aircraft, but it also operates on the Naval Research Lab (NRL) P-3 aircraft. It is an X-band (9.3-9.8 GHz) radar that measures radar reflectivity, Doppler velocity, and other radar parameters to characterize convective systems and clouds. ELDORA has a beamwidth of 1.8 degrees and a range resolution of 37.5 to 1200 meters, depending on radar configuration.
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.
A pyrgeometer is a ground-based or airborne passive radiation sensor. It measures downward and upward longwave radiation in the 4-50 μm spectral range. Pyrgeometers measure changes in resistance/voltage using a thermopile sensor to determine longwave radiation. These measurements can be used to calculate the infrared radiation flux. Pyrgeometers are typically used for climatological, meteorological, and agricultural applications.
Generic-Radiometers refer to non-specific radiometers on a platform. These are typically passive microwave radiometers that measure brightness temperature. Radiometers can be used to retrieve temperature and water vapor profiles, soil moisture content, ocean salinity, precipitation and cloud properties, and vegetation.
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Microwave > Brightness 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
A pyrometer is a remote-sensing infrared thermometer that measures the temperature of distant objects. It determines the temperature of an object by detecting its thermal radiation. It can be deployed on aircraft, ground, or water-based platforms for surface and sea surface temperature observations. For atmospheric studies, the pyrometer typically operates in the 9.6 to 11.5 µm spectral range and has a temperature range of -25 to 200 degrees Celsius. Pyrometers have a typical response time of 5 ms to 600 s.
Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Temperature > Sea Surface Temperature
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Skin Temperature
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Infrared Wavelengths > Brightness Temperature
A pyrgeometer is a ground-based or airborne passive radiation sensor. It measures downward and upward longwave radiation in the 4-50 μm spectral range. Pyrgeometers measure changes in resistance/voltage using a thermopile sensor to determine longwave radiation. These measurements can be used to calculate the infrared radiation flux. Pyrgeometers are typically used for climatological, meteorological, and agricultural applications.
Generic-Radiometers refer to non-specific radiometers on a platform. These are typically passive microwave radiometers that measure brightness temperature. Radiometers can be used to retrieve temperature and water vapor profiles, soil moisture content, ocean salinity, precipitation and cloud properties, and vegetation.
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Microwave > Brightness 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
