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Instrument

CAR
Cloud Absorption Radiometer

The Cloud Absorption Radiometer (CAR) is an airborne multichannel scanning radiometer developed by the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). CAR provides measurements of scattered radiance and bidirectional surface reflectance across 14 spectral bands in the visible and near-infrared wavelengths (0.34-2.30 µm). It also captures imagery of cloud and surface features on Earth. CAR has a scan rate of 1.67 Hz (100 rpm) and a spatial resolution of 4 meters at nadir, at an altitude of 200 meters above ground.

Image of CAR mounted on the nose of the J-31

Image of CAR mounted on the nose of the J-31

NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory passes Antarctica's tallest peak, Mount Vinson, on Oct. 22, 2012, during a flight over the continent to measure changes in the massive ice sheet and sea ice. Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger (Photography courtesy NASA Images)

Overview

Instrument Details

Measurement Type

Spectrometer/Radiometer

Measurement/Variables

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Radiative Transfer

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Radiative Transfer > Scattering

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Radiative Transfer > Absorption

Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Optics > Reflectance

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties

Earth Science > Cryosphere > Snow/ice > Reflectance > Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function

Earth Science > Land Surface > Surface Radiative Properties > Reflectance

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Reflectance

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Radiance

Vertical Measurement Regions

Land Surface, Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

1.67 Hz

Spatial Resolution

4 m

Measurement Frequency

130-882 THz

Calibration Details

https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0426(1986)003%3C0513:MSRFAM%3E2.0.CO;2

Online Information

Lead Investigator
Charles Gatebe
Technical Contact
Charles Gatebe
Instrument Maker
GSFC
Funding Source
NSF
Overview Publications
Overview Publication
Repository
- Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC)

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

P-3 Orion

26 Campaigns · 139 Instruments

SnowEx

Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Alaska

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· 26 Data Products

Arctic Research of the Composition of the Troposphere from Aircraft and Satellites

Alaska, Western Canada, California

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· 27 Data Products

Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from COlumn and VERtically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality

Baltimore MD, San Joaquin Valley CA, Houston TX, Denver CO

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· 89 Data Products

ECO-3D

United States East Coast

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· 0 Data Products

Student Airborne Science Activation Program

Mid-Atlantic, Wallops Flight Facility

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· 0 Data Products

Image of the J-31 aircraft

Image of the J-31 aircraft

Jetstream 31

3 Campaigns · 5 Instruments

Cloud and Land Surface Interaction Campaign 2007

Southern Great Plains, Oklahoma, Kansas

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· 7 Data Products

Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

North America, Gulf of Mexico, North Pacific Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean

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· 21 Data Products

Megacity Initiative: Local and Global Research Observations

Mexico City Metropolitan Area

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· 0 Data Products

Convair C-131 Samaritan

6 Campaigns · 32 Instruments

Tropospheric Aerosol Radiative Forcing Observational Experiment

Western Atlantic Ocean, US Eastern Seaboard

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· 5 Data Products

First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

Central and Midwest United States, California Coast, Northwest Africa, Alaska

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· 131 Data Products

Smoke/Sulfates, Clouds, and Radiation

Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest, Central Brazil

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· 6 Data Products

Arctic Radiation Measurement in Column: Atmosphere-Surface

Brooks Range, North Slope, Beaufort Sea, Alaska

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· 0 Data Products

Convair-580

8 Campaigns · 43 Instruments

Southern African Regional Science Initiative

Southern Africa

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· 117 Data Products

Chesapeake Lighthouse and Aircraft Measurements for Satellites

Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean

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· 5 Data Products

First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

Central and Midwest United States, California Coast, Northwest Africa, Alaska

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· 131 Data Products

Data Products

Filter data products from this instrument by specific campaigns, platforms, or formats.

Campaigns

Platforms

Formats

First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Arctic Cloud Experiment (ACE) University of Washington CV580 Aircraft10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0010

CampaignsFirst International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

PlatformsConvair-580

FormatsOther (HDF)

SAFARI 2000 Cloud Absorption Radiometer BRDF, Dry Season 200010.3334/ORNLDAAC/709

CampaignsSouthern African Regional Science Initiative

PlatformsConvair-580

CLAMS CV-580 Cloud Absorption Radiometer (CAR)10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/CLAMS/0002

CampaignsChesapeake Lighthouse and Aircraft Measurements for Satellites

PlatformsConvair-580

INTEXB_J31_AIRCRAFT

CampaignsIntercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

PlatformsJetstream 31

ARCTAS P-3B Aircraft CAR Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/ARCTAS_AircraftRemoteSensing_P3B_CAR_Data_1

CampaignsArctic Research of the Composition of the Troposphere from Aircraft and Satellites

PlatformsP-3 Orion

FormatsHDF

DISCOVER-AQ Colorado Deployment P-3B Aircraft Remotely Sensed Cloud Absorption Radiometer (CAR) Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DISCOVERAQ_Colorado_Radiation_AircraftRemoteSensing_CAR_Data_1

CampaignsDeriving Information on Surface Conditions from COlumn and VERtically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality

PlatformsP-3 Orion

FormatsHDF