Top ARM Accomplishment: Improvements in Datasets

Summary

ARM pioneered the development of “forcing” datasets using variational analysis techniques that permit cloud resolving models and single-column versions of climate models to simulate the clouds that occur at the ARM sites and thus permit direct comparison of model simulations to observations. (A “forcing” dataset quantifies the impact of the regions adjacent to the ARM site on conditions at the ARM site.) This work is summarized at: [link expired: http://science.arm.gov/wg/cpm/scm/research/docs/arm.modeling.nugget1.pdf]

ARM created a set of modeler-friendly datasets called CMBE (Climate Model Best Estimates) that can be compared directly to climate model output, unlike most ARM data which consists of daily files and multiple measurements of the same variable. This removed the main roadblock inhibiting modeler use of ARM data, which was the offputtingly long time it took modelers to understand and use ARM data. The CMBE products have been very popular with modelers.

ARM developed unique “value added products” for modelers. Particularly popular was ARCSL, which gave the vertical locations of clouds from a combination of radar, lidar, and other data, enabling modelers to test and improve their treatments for cloud vertical locations and timing. ARM also put much more effort than typical field campaigns into creating accurate radiosonde profiles of temperature and moisture, for example by removing dry biases and correcting for solar heating. These have made ARM data far more useful for the modeling community.

ARM provided the major data source the for the U.S. contribution to GCIP and in particular for the GEWEX GCIP Mississippi Basin experiment. This data was widely used for the testing and improvement of hydrological models.

GCIP=GEWEX Continental-scale International Project
ARSCL=Active Remotely Sensed Clouds Locations
M-PACE=Mixed-Phase Arctic Cloud Experiment
ISDAC=Indirect and Semi-Direct Aerosol Campaign
ARESE=ARM Enhanced Shortwave Experiment