DC3 Remotely Sensed DC-8 Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) Data

DC3_AircraftRemoteSensing_DIAL_DC8_Data are remotely sensed data collected by the Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) onboard the DC-8 aircraft during the Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry (DC3) field campaign. Data collection for this product is complete.

The Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry (DC3) field campaign sought to understand the dynamical, physical, and lightning processes of deep, mid-latitude continental convective clouds and to define the impact of these clouds on upper tropospheric composition and chemistry. DC3 was conducted from May to June 2012 with a base location of Salina, Kansas. Observations were conducted in northeastern Colorado, west Texas to central Oklahoma, and northern Alabama in order to provide a wide geographic sample of storm types and boundary layer compositions, as well as to sample convection. DC3 had two primary science objectives. The first was to investigate storm dynamics and physics, lightning and its production of nitrogen oxides, cloud hydrometeor effects on wet deposition of species, surface emission variability, and chemistry in anvil clouds. Observations related to this objective focused on the early stages of active convection. The second objective was to investigate changes in upper tropospheric chemistry and composition after active convection. Observations related to this objective focused on the 12-48 hours following convection. This objective also served to explore seasonal change of upper tropospheric chemistry. In addition to using the NSF/NCAR Gulfstream-V (GV) aircraft, the NASA DC-8 was used during DC3 to provide in-situ measurements of the convective storm inflow and remotely-sensed measurements used for flight planning and column characterization. DC3 utilized ground-based radar networks spread across its observation area to measure the physical and kinematic characteristics of storms. Additional sampling strategies relied on lightning mapping arrays, radiosondes, and precipitation collection. Lastly, DC3 used data collected from various satellite instruments to achieve its goals, focusing on measurements from CALIOP onboard CALIPSO and CPL onboard CloudSat. In addition to providing an extensive set of data related to deep, mid-latitude continental convective clouds and analyzing their impacts on upper tropospheric composition and chemistry, DC3 improved models used to predict convective transport. DC3 improved knowledge of convection and chemistry, and provided information necessary to understanding the processes relating to ozone in the upper troposphere.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Maintainer Earthdata Forum
Last Updated November 2, 2026, 19:44 (UTC)
Created April 1, 2025, 15:21 (UTC)
Identifier 10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DC3_AircraftRemoteSensing_DIAL_DC8_Data_1
Modified 2026-10-26T22:16:11Z
Theme {"Earth Science"}
accessLevel public
bureauCode {026:00}
catalog_conformsTo https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
harvest_object_id 41f76575-f1c3-4be1-8c6e-9640f9611071
harvest_source_id b99e41c6-fe79-4c19-bbc3-9b6c8111bfac
harvest_source_title Science Discovery Engine
license https://www.usa.gov/government-works
programCode {026:000}
publisher NASA/LARC/SD/ASDC
resource-type Dataset
source_datajson_identifier true
source_hash 7ecd63b9778a00e1e2b989feca883fa28ff07e544d853939ec3637a4654ca908
source_schema_version 1.1
spatial ["CARTESIAN", [{"WestBoundingCoordinate": -105.58, "EastBoundingCoordinate": -78.97, "SouthBoundingCoordinate": 30.89, "NorthBoundingCoordinate": 42.16}]], Maximum Altitude, 9999.9 Meters
temporal 2012-05-14/2012-06-23