The 12-Year Cirrus Cloud Lidar Dataset Supporting Project FIRE

Since 1987, polarization ruby lidar data have been collected from the Facility for Atmospheric Remote Sensing in Salt Lake City, UT. The observations (current at ~2,700-hours) are taken when cirrus clouds are present, and support the satellite cloud validation goals of the First ISCCP Regional Experiment. Described are climatological results for the macrophysical, derived microphysical, and radiative properties of the cirrus clouds. This extensive dataset helps to define the basic nature of cirrus clouds from a particular midlatitude location.