ARM Southern Great Plains, Atmospheric Profiling
Entry ID:
SGPatmospheric_profiling
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Summary
Abstract:
The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program is the largest global change research program supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). ARM scientists focus on obtaining field measurements and developing models to better understand the processes that control solar and thermal infrared radiative transfer in the atmosphere (especially in clouds) and at the earth's surface. The URL for ... the ARM Data Archive is http://www.archive.arm.gov/. The URL for general information about the ARM program is http://www.arm.gov/. The data stored by the ARM Archive includes numerous parameters about radiative flux, meteorology, water vapor and clouds. The U.S. Southern Great Plains (SGP) site was the first field measurement site established by DOE's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program. Scientists are using the information obtained from the SGP to improve cloud and radiative models and parameterizations and, thereby, the performance of atmospheric general circulation models used for climate research. Deployment of the first instrumentation to the SGP site occurred in the spring of 1992. Additional instrumentation and data processing capabilities have been incrementally added in the succeeding years. The SGP was chosen as the first ARM field measurement site for several reasons including its relatively homogenous geography and easy accessibility, wide variety of climatic and cloud conditions, surface flux properties, and large seasonal variation in temperature and specific humidity. It also already had a large, existing network of weather and climate research and instrumentation. The SGP site consists of in situ and remote-sensing instrument clusters arrayed across approximately 55,000 square miles (143,000 square kilometers) in north-central Oklahoma. The ARM SGP site is the largest and most extensive climate research field site in the world. The heart of the SGP site is the heavily instrumented Central Facility located on 160 acres of cattle pasture and wheat fields southeast of Lamont, Oklahoma. A staff of 30 scientists and technicians collect and monitor data from the Central Facility instruments and from smaller, unmanned facilities throughout the site. The instruments throughout the site automatically collect data on surface and atmospheric properties, routinely providing data to the Site Data System, which is linked by high-speed communications to the ARM Archive and Data Center. The Data Center acquires additional data from other sources, such as National Weather Service satellite and surface data, and provides tailored data packages to ARM Science Team members. Atmospheric profiling data is available from numerous locations at the SGP site. Site descriptions are available at http://www.arm.gov/sites/sgp.stm. Detailed information on the instruments used is at " http://www.arm.gov/instruments". The following list contains the instrumentation used for atmospheric profiling and the data available for sites at SGP. Microwave Radiometer (MWR). For complete MWR information, see " http://www.arm.gov/instruments". The MWR provides time-series measurements of column-integrated amounts of water vapor and liquid water. The instrument itself is essentially a sensitive microwave receiver. That is, it is tuned to measure the microwave emissions of the vapor and liquid water molecules in the atmosphere at specific frequencies. A MWR is operated at a frequency that is optimized for a particular atmospheric condition. For example, different frequencies may be used under low water vapor conditions while others may improve liquid water retrievals. At the Central Facility (CF1; Lamont OK), MWR data are available for 1970-01-01 to present. At Boundary Facilities in Hillsboro KS (BF1), Vici OK (BF4), and Morris OK (BF5), MWR data are available for 1994-02-12 to present. At the Boundary Facility in Purcell OK (BF6), MWR data are available for 1995-04-01 to present. ARM data streams are coded as follows: sgpmwrlos: MWR: water liquid and vapor along line of sight path spgmwrtip: airmasses, brightness temperatures in TIP mode sgp5mwravg: 5-minute average integrated vapor and liquid water Additional data streams or value added products may be added in the future. ARM data streams for quality measurement experiments (QME) are available: sgpqmemwrcol: Derived: QME comparing column water from MWR vs. instrument model sgpqmemwrlbl: Derived: QME comparing LBLRTM, MWR brightness temps. at 23.8 and 31.4 GHz sgpqmemwrlblss: Derived: QME-LBLRTM, MWR bright. temps at 23.8 and 31.4 GHz, scaled with lblsonde sgpqmemwrprof: Derived: QME comparing MWR and sonde profiles of temperature and water vapor Additional data streams or value added products may be added in the future. Balloone-Borne Sounding System (BBSS). For complete BBSS information, see " http://www.arm.gov/instruments". The BBSS provides in-situ measurements (vertical profiles) of both the thermodynamic state of the atmosphere, and the wind speed and direction. Pressure (hPa), Temperature (degC), Relative Humidity (percent RH), Wind speed (m/s), and Wind direction (deg) are measured as functions of time during a free-balloon ascent. Secondary (derived) quantities included in the data stream, also measured as functions of time, are Altitude (gpm), Dew Point (degC), Ascent Rate (m/s), Latitude of Sonde (degN), Longitude of Sonde (degW), u-component of wind velocity (m/s), and v-component of wind velocity (m/s). At the Central Facility (CF1; Lamont OK), BBSS data are available for 1993-07-21 to present. ARM data streams are coded as follows: sgpsondeC1: BBSS meterological data profile sgpsondewndcalcC1: Derived: calculated winds from the sondewrpn sgpsondewnpnC1: BBSS: Vaisala-processed winds, pressure, temperature, and relative humidity sgpsondewrpnC1: BBSS: Vaisala winds, research pressure, temperature, and relative humidity Additional data streams or value added products may be added in the future. Radar Wind Profiler and Radio Acoustic Sounding System (RASS) (RWP915). For complete RWP915 information, see " http://www.arm.gov/instruments". The RWP915 measures wind profiles from (nominally) 0.1 km to 5 km and virtual temperature profiles from 0.1 km to 1.5 km. It operates by transmitting electromagnetic energy into the atmosphere and measuring the strength and frequency of backscattered energy. Virtual temperatures are recovered by transmitting an acoustic signal vertically and measuring the electromagnetic energy scattered from the acoustic wavefront. The propagation speed of the acoustic wave is proportional to the square root of the virtual temperature. The primary quantities measured with the system are the intensity and Doppler frequency of backscattered radiation. The wind speed is determined from the Doppler frequency of energy scattered from refractive index fluctuations (caused primarily by moisture fluctuations but also by temperature fluctuations) embedded within the atmosphere; the virtual temperature is determined from the Doppler frequency of microwave energy scattered from acoustic energy propagating through the atmosphere. Data availability is as follows: Central Facility (CF1; Lamont OK) for 2001-04-01 to present Beaumont KS (IF1) from 1997-02-20 to present Medicine Lodge KS (IF2) for 1997-03-04 to present Meeker OK (IF3) from 1996-12-30 to present ARM data streams are coded as follows: sgp915rwptemp: virtual temperature profile data sgp915rwptempcon: temperature profile data sgp915rwptempmom: temperature profile data sgp915rwptempspec: temperature profile data sgprwptemp: 50 virtual temperature profiles at 50 and 916 MHz sgp915rwpwind: wind profile data sgp915rwpwindcon: wind profile data sgp915rwpwindmom: wind profile data sgp915rwpwindspec: wind profile data Additional data streams or value added products may be added in the future. Radar Wind Profiler and Radio Acoustic Sounding System (RASS) (RWP50). The RWP50 measures wind profiles from (nominally) 2 to 12 km and virtual temperature profiles from 2 to 4 km. It operates by transmitting electromagnetic energy into the atmosphere and measuring the strength and frequency of backscattered energy. Virtual temperatures are recovered by transmitting an acoustic signal vertically and measuring the electromagnetic energy scattered from the acoustic wavefront. The propagation speed of the acoustic wave is proportional to the square root of the virtual temperature. The primary quantities measured with the system are the intensity and Doppler frequency of backscattered radiation. The wind speed is determined from the Doppler frequency of energy scattered from refractive index fluctuations (caused primarily by temperature fluctuations) embedded within the atmosphere; the virtual temperature is determined from the Doppler frequency of microwave energy scattered from acoustic energy propagating through the atmosphere. Data are available from the RWP50 at the Central Facility (CF1; Lamont OK) for 1997-05-19 to present. ARM data streams are coded as follows: sgp50rwptempC1: virtual temperature profile data sgp50rwptempconC1: temperature profile data sgp50rwptempmomC1: temperature profile data sgp50rwptempspecC1: temperature profile data sgprwptemp: 50 virtual temperature profiles at 50 and 915 MHz sgp50rwpwind: wind profile data sgp50rwpwindcon: wind profile data sgp50rwpwindmomC1: wind profile data sgp50rwpwindspecC1: wind profile data Additional data streams or value added products may be added in the future. Raman Lidar (RL). For a complete description of the RL, visit http://www.arm.gov/instruments. The RL is an active, ground-based laser remote sensing instrument that measures vertical profiles of water-vapor mixing ratio and several cloud- and aerosol-related quantities. Lidar (light detection and ranging) is the optical analog of radar, using pulses of laser radiation to probe the atmosphere. This system is fully computer automated, and will run unattended for many days following a brief (~5-minute) startup period. The self-contained system (requiring only external electrical power) is housed in a climate-controlled 8ft x 8ft x 20ft standard shipping container. The Raman Lidar has independent measurement channels that record range-resolved backscatter signals from molecular water vapor, molecular nitrogen, and combined Rayleigh and aerosol contributions (the latter at polarizations parallel and perpendicular to the polarization of the laser beam). Primary quantities obtained from these backscatter signals are range-resolved vertical profiles of water-vapor mixing ratio (g/kg), aerosol scattering ratio (unitless), and backscatter depolarization ratio (percent). Additional cloud- and aerosol-related measurements can also be derived from the backscatter signals. RL data are available for the Central Facility (CF1; Lamont OK) from 1996-06-03 to present. ARM data streams are coded as follows: sgprlC1: raw backscattered profiles at 355, 387, and 408 nm sgprllogC1: surface log information sgp30rlprofC1: derived 30-min RL profiles-water vapor mixing, aerosols, scattering and depol. sgp10rlprofC1: derived 10-min profiles of water vapor mixing, aerosols, scattering and depol. sgp10rlprofasr1ferrC1: aerosol extinction profiles and aerosol optical thickness sgp10rlprofbe1turnC1: best-estimate state of the atmosphere product from the RL and AERI (atmospheric emitted radiance interferometer) + GOES (geostationary operational environmental satellite) retrievals sgp10rlprofdep1turnC1: depolarization profiles and single layer cloud optical depths sgp10rlprofmrlturnC1: water vapor mixing ratio and relative humidity profiles, along with PWV sgp10rlprofext1ferrC1: aerosol extinction profiles and aerosol optical thickness from the RL Additional data streams or value added products may be added in the future.
Related URL
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Description:
NCVweb is an interactive web-based tool for viewing atmospheric radiation measurement (ARM) data.
Description:
This catalog lists the data streams that are currently available from the ARM Archive. The data streams are listed by file format type (i.e, CDF, HDF, RAW, JPG, ASC, and Other) and then by the site where the data are collected. Each list contains the name of the data streams in alphanumeric order, the number of files within the data stream, the minimum data date, and the maximum data date. The sites that have the word development in parenthesis are data processes which are operated during the final phases of implementation of a data source, resulting in data which are labeled as Development. Development data are frequently available to users, but additional information about the operating conditions and potential for errors must be considered. The files in CDF format are also listed in preformatted lists for those browsers that have difficulty handling large html tables. The information in this catalog is updated about once a month.
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Geographic Coverage
(Click for Interactive Map)
Spatial coordinates
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N: 37.28
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S: 34.98
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E: -95.86
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W: -99.22
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Data Set Citation
Dataset Originator/Creator:
Wanda Ferrell, Ted Cress, Thomas Ackerman
Dataset Title:
ARM Southern Great Plains, Atmospheric Profiling
Data Presentation Form:
netCDF files
Online Resource:
http://www.arm.gov
Quality
One of the goals of the ARM Program is to provide data streams of reasonable quality for scientific research. Traditionally, data quality issues have been addressed within ARM at several levels, including by instrument mentors, site scientists, value added product scientists, and Science Team members at large. Maintaining data quality for a program of the size and ... complexity of ARM is a significant challenge. Efforts toward this end have matured and evolved over the life of the program. The ARM Program Data Quality (DQ) Office has the responsibility for ensuring that quality assurance results are communicated to (1) data users so that they may make informed decisions when using the data, and (2) ARM's Site Operations and Engineers to facilitate improved instrument performance and thereby minimize the amount of unacceptable data collected. For additional information, visit http://www.arm.gov/data/data_quality.stm. 
Access Constraints
Data of common interest from external sources are shared whenever possible, but some sources restrict secondary distribution of data. In these cases, ARM will seek specific allowances to distribute such data to members of the ARM Science Team, but will observe restrictions on further distribution from the Archive if required.
Use Constraints
Use-constraints, if any, are provided in Data Quality Reports sent with the data files when data are requested. The automatic inclusion of a data originator as a co-author is not insisted upon in the ARM program, but the source of any data should be clearly recognized either as a co-author or through an appropriate acknowledgment. The ARM Program should be acknowledged ... in publications as the programmatic origin of the field program. ARM-funded investigators will use the following acknowledgment: "This research was supported by the Office of Biological and Environmental Research of the U.S. Department of Energy (under grant or contract number - if appropriate) as part of the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program." The U.S. Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program should be appropriately acknowledged in publications resulting from collaborative efforts in which ARM data or facilities were used. ARM-funded principal investigators will give proper acknowledgment to cooperating or collaborating programs in those cases where data originating therein are being used. 
Distribution
Distribution Media:
FTP or request
Distribution Size:
Variable
Distribution Format:
netCDF
Fees:
None
Personnel
Role:
TECHNICAL CONTACT
Phone:
(630) 252-9540
Fax:
(630) 252-9792
Email:
liljegren at anl.gov
Contact Address:
Argonne National Laboratory
ER Division, Bldg. 203
9700 South Cass Ave.
City:
Argonne
Province or State:
IL
Postal Code:
60439
Country:
USA
Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Phone:
(405) 325-3041
Fax:
(405) 325-7614
Email:
plamb at ou.edu
Contact Address:
University of Oklahoma
CIMMS Department
100 E. Boyd, Rm. 1110
City:
Norman
Province or State:
OK
Postal Code:
73019
Country:
USA
Role:
DIF AUTHOR
Phone:
865-574-7827
Fax:
865-574-4665
Email:
mccordra at ornl.gov
Contact Address:
Building 1507, MS 6407
P.O. Box 2008
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
City:
Oak Ridge
Province or State:
TN
Postal Code:
37831-6407
Country:
USA
Publications/References
Ackerman, T. P. and G. M. Stokes. 2003. The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program. Physics Today 56: 38-44. Science Plan for the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program (ARM). 1996. U.S. Department of Energy, DOE/ER-0670T. Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program Plan. 1990. DOE/ER-0441. U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Research, Washington, D.C. NTIS DE90008108.
Creation and Review Dates
DIF Creation Date:
2003-10-01
Last DIF Revision Date:
2005-12-22
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