Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere

About: Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Snow & Data assimilation. The organization has 332 authors who have published 997 publications receiving 38835 citations. The organization is also known as: CIRA.

Toward a New Cloud Analysis and Prediction System

Abstract: What: Reviewing current and recent cloud analysis efforts and evaluating the state of the science, synergies, and collaborations in modeling clouds, 40 experts in cloud modeling, observations, and data assimilation met to move decisively toward a realization of cloud analysis systems for operational use. When: 1–3 September 2009 Where: Boulder, Colorado TOWARD A NEW CLOUD ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION SYSTEM

Sensitivity of Model-Generated Daytime Surface Heat Fluxes over Snow to Land-Cover Changes

Abstract: Snow cover can significantly suppress daytime temperatures by increasing the surface albedo and limiting the surface temperature to 0°C. The strength of this effect is dependent upon how well the snow can cover, or mask, the underlying surface. In regions where tall vegetation protrudes through a shallow layer of snow, the temperature-reducing effects of the snow will be suppressed since the protruding vegetation will absorb solar radiation and emit an upward turbulent heat flux. This means that an atmospheric model must have a reasonable representation of the land cover, as well as be able to correctly calculate snow depth, if an accurate simulation of surface heat fluxes, air temperatures, and boundary layer structure is to be made. If too much vegetation protrudes through the snow, then the surface sensible heat flux will be too large and the air temperatures will be too high. In this study four simulations are run with the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS 4.30) for a snow event that...

A global view on the effect of water uptake on aerosol particle light scattering

Abstract: A reference dataset of multi-wavelength particle light scattering and hemispheric backscattering coefficients for different relative humidities (RH) between RH = 30 and 95% and wavelengths between λ = 450 nm and 700 nm is described in this work. Tandem-humidified nephelometer measurements from 26 ground-based sites around the globe, covering multiple aerosol types, have been re-analysed and harmonized into a single dataset. The dataset includes multi-annual measurements from long-term monitoring sites as well as short-term field campaign data. The result is a unique collection of RH-dependent aerosol light scattering properties, presented as a function of size cut. This dataset is important for climate and atmospheric model-measurement inter-comparisons, as a means to improve model performance, and may be useful for satellite and remote sensing evaluation using surface-based, in-situ measurements. Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data (ISA-Tab format)

Calibration of the Eighth Geostationary Observational Environmental Satellite (GOES-8) Imager Visible Sensor

Abstract: The GOES-8/Imager has provided scientifically valuable imagery since its launch in April of 1994. However, without an onboard calibration source most research applications involving its data have been limited to qualitative analysis of the imagery. Presented herein is a review of previous quantitative work, including the prelaunch calibration information, and results of a new calibration effort that compares GOES-8/Imager raw counts of clear ocean scenes to theoretical satellite-detected radiance values from a radiative transfer model. Monthly averages of the calibration coefficient are presented at 6-month intervals from August 1995 through August 1999. Although the technique differs from previous calibration efforts, which compare Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite observations to some reference instrument, the new calibration results agree well with previous results. The calibration suggests a one-time decrease of 7.6% shortly after launch, and an ongoing annual degradation of 5...