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Instrument

CRS
Cloud Radar System

The Cloud Radar System (CRS) is an airborne W-band (94 GHz) polarimetric Doppler radar designed for the NASA ER-2 aircraft. CRS provides radar observations of clouds and precipitation from the surface to the lower stratosphere. It has a horizontal resolution of 150 m and a horizontal sampling interval of 50 m. Its vertical resolution is 100 m with a vertical sampling interval of 37.5 m.

Image of the CRS

Image of the CRS

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

Radar

Measurement/Variables

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Microphysics

Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Radar > Doppler Velocity

Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Radar > Radar Reflectivity

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Tropospheric/high-level Clouds (observed/analyzed) > Cirrus/systems > Cirrus Cloud Systems

Vertical Measurement Regions

Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

Variable

Spatial Resolution

150 m (horizontal), 100 m (vertical)

Measurement Frequency

94 GHz

Calibration Details

https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0426(2004)021%3C1378:AGCRSO%3E2.0.CO;2

Online Information

Lead Investigator
Gerald Heymsfield
Technical Contact
Gerald Heymsfield
Instrument Maker
Goddard Mesoscale Atmospheric Processes Branch, Microwave Sensors Branch, Microwave Instrument Technology Branch, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Former Pulse Technology
Funding Source
NASA Atmospheric Radiation Program
Overview Publications
Overview Publication
Repository
- Global Hydrology Resource Center DAAC (GHRC)

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

Image of ER-2 taking off

Image of ER-2 taking off

NASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft

63 Campaigns · 107 Instruments

Olympic Mountains Experiment

Olympic Peninsula in U.S. Washington State

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· 36 Data Products

Integrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment

Southern Appalachians, including portions of North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia

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· 47 Data Products

GOES-R Post Launch Test

Continental United States

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· 19 Data Products

Cloud and Land Surface Interaction Campaign 2007

Southern Great Plains, Oklahoma, Kansas

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· 7 Data Products

Tropical Cloud Systems and Processes

Costa Rica, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, eastern North Pacific

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· 14 Data Products

Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling

Costa Rica, tropical Eastern Pacific

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· 1 Data Product

Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Snowstorms

Eastern United States

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· 66 Data Products

Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers Florida Area Cirrus Experiment

Southern Florida

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· 1 Data Product

Radar Definition Experiment

Southeastern United States, North Carolina (NC); Olympic Peninsula, Washington (WA) State

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· 30 Data Products

The CALIPSO-CloudSat Validation Experiment

Eastern United States, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico

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· 0 Data Products

GSFC Lidar Observation and Validation Experiment

Southern California, Western United States, Pacific Ocean

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· 0 Data Products

Airborne Lightning Observatory for FEGS and TGFs

Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Central America, Caribbean Sea

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· 0 Data Products

Westcoast & Heartland Hyperspectral Microwave Sensor Intensive Experiment

Western United States, Great Plains, Pacific Ocean

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· 0 Data Products

Image of the WB-57 aircraft taking off at JSC

Image of the WB-57 aircraft taking off at JSC

NASA WB-57

16 Campaigns · 80 Instruments

Costa Rica Aura Validation Experiment

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· 0 Data Products

Data Products

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

Campaigns

Platforms

GPM GROUND VALIDATION CLOUD RADAR SYSTEM (CRS) IPHEx V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/IPHEX/CRS/DATA101

CampaignsRadar Definition Experiment, Integrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment

PlatformsNASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft

TCSP CLOUD RADAR SYSTEM (CRS) V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/TCSP/CRS/DATA101

CampaignsTropical Cloud Systems and Processes

PlatformsNASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft

GOES-R PLT Cloud Radar System (CRS) V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GOESRPLT/CRS/DATA101

CampaignsGOES-R Post Launch Test

PlatformsNASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft

GPM Ground Validation Cloud Radar System (CRS) OLYMPEX V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/OLYMPEX/CRS/DATA101

CampaignsOlympic Mountains Experiment, Radar Definition Experiment

PlatformsNASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft

Cloud Radar System (CRS) IMPACTS V110.5067/IMPACTS/CRS/DATA101

CampaignsInvestigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Snowstorms

PlatformsNASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft

Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers - Florida Area Cirrus Experiment (CRYSTAL-FACE) Quick-Look Data

CampaignsCirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers Florida Area Cirrus Experiment

PlatformsCessna Citation II, NASA WB-57, Campaign Field Sites, NASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft