Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility US Department of Energy
 
 

COPS - 35.5 GHz Cloud Radar Comparison at Black Forest

1 May 2007 - 30 May 2007

Lead Scientist: Jan Handwerker

Observatory: amf, fkb

Weather forecast models have not been successful in improving the Quantitative Precipitation Forecast during the last 16 years. One reason for this stagnation is the lack of comprehensive, high-quality data sets usable for model validation as well as for data assimilation, thus leading to improved initial fields in numerical models. Theoretical analyses have identified the requirements measured data have to meet in order to close the gaps in process understanding. In field campaigns, it has been shown that the newest generation of remote sensing systems has the potential to yield data sets of the required quality. Therefore the most powerful remote sensing instruments with proven ground-based and airborne measurement techniques were combined in an Intensive Observation Period (IOP). The goal was to serve as a backbone for the Priority Program SPP 1167 by producing the demanded data sets of unachieved accuracy and resolution. This required a sophisticated scientific preparation and a careful coordination between the efforts of the institutions involved. For the first time, the pre-convective environment, the formation of clouds and the onset and development of precipitation as well as its intensity were observed in four dimensions simultaneously in a region of sufficient size. This was achieved by combining the IOP with international programs and by collaboration between leading scientists in Europe, US, and other countries. Thus, the IOP, which we called Convective and Orographically-induced Precipitation Study (COPS), was a unique opportunity for an international field campaign featuring the newest generation of measurement systems such as scanning radar and lidar and leading to outstanding advances in atmospheric sciences.

Timeline

  • Parent Campaign
  • Sibling Campaign

2010

Dupont D and L roeder. 2010. ARM Mobile Facilities (AMF) Brochure. DOE/SC-ARM-10-022.

2009

Minnis P and PW Heck. 2009. Algorithm Theoretical Basis ABI Nighttime Cloud Optical and Microphysical Properties (NCOMP). Presented at 2009 GOES-R AWG Annual Meeting. College Park, MD.

2007

Mather J. 2007. 2007 Annual Report. Ed. by L. Roeder, DOE ARM Climate Research Facility. DOE/SC-ARM-0706. 10.2172/947997.

2006

roeder L. 2006. ARM Mobile Facility Brochure. DOE/SC-ARM/P-06-025.


View All Related Publications

FKB Data Sources

Name Full Name Browse Data
AERI Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer Browse Data
AERINF AERI Noise Filtered Browse Data
AIP Aerosol Intensive Properties Browse Data
AOD-MFRSR Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) derived from MFRSR measurements Browse Data
AOS Aerosol Observing System Browse Data
CAMSITE camera that monitors a site area Browse Data
CCN Cloud Condensation Nuclei Particle Counter Browse Data
CEIL Ceilometer Browse Data
CSPHOT Sunphotometer Browse Data
ECMWFDIAG European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts Diagnostic Analyses Browse Data
ECOR Eddy Correlation Flux Measurement System Browse Data
GNDRAD Ground Radiometers on Stand for Upwelling Radiation Browse Data
MERGESONDE Merged Sounding Browse Data
MET Surface Meteorological Instrumentation Browse Data
MFRSR Multifilter Rotating Shadowband Radiometer Browse Data
MFRSRCLDOD Cloud Optical Properties from MFRSR Using Min Algorithm Browse Data
MPL Micropulse Lidar Browse Data
MPLAVG MPL: data averaged to fixed 30 second interval, e.g. for polarized data Browse Data
MPLCMASK Cloud mask from Micropulse Lidar Browse Data
MWR Microwave Radiometer Browse Data
MWRHF Microwave Radiometer - High Frequency Browse Data
MWRP Microwave Radiometer Profiler Browse Data
MWRRET MWR Retrievals Browse Data
NCEPGFS National Centers for Environment Prediction Global Forecast System Browse Data
NFOV Narrow Field of View Zenith Radiometer Browse Data
PBLHT Planetary Boundary Layer Height Browse Data
QCECOR Quality Controlled Eddy Correlation Flux Measurement Browse Data
QCRAD Data Quality Assessment for ARM Radiation Data Browse Data
RADFLUXANAL Radiative Flux Analysis Browse Data
RWP Radar Wind Profiler Browse Data
SKYRAD Sky Radiometers on Stand for Downwelling Radiation Browse Data
SONDE Balloon-Borne Sounding System Browse Data
SONDEADJUST Sonde Adjust Browse Data
TSI Total Sky Imager Browse Data
VISST Minnis Cloud Products Using Visst Algorithm Browse Data
WACR W-Band (95 GHz) ARM Cloud Radar Browse Data
WACRARSCL W-band Cloud Radar Active Remote Sensing of Cloud Browse Data