In situ moisture measurements at the SGP ARM CART CF during the first and second Water Vapor Intensive Observation Periods

Abstract

Describes the in situ moisture sensor measurements made in conjunction with the first and second Water Vapor Intensive Observation Periods (WVIOPs) that were conducted at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program Southern Great Plains (SGP) Cloud and Radiation Testbed (CART) site Central facility (CF) during the boreal fall of 1996 and 1997. Numerous remote sensing instruments were assembled at the CART site (e.g. Raman lidars, Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometers (AERI), microwave radiometers, etc.) during the two WVIOPs and the in situ measurements were used for calibration and verification. During both WVIOPs, additional sensors were mounted adjacent to the existing CART in situ sensors to verify operation and to detect sensor malfunctions. Results from the 1996 WVIOP are discussed briefly followed by more detailed findings on the 1997 WVIOP.