ARM Data Products and Methods for Climate Model Validation

The Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility provides ground-based observations of the atmospheric state for climate research and climate model development. Observations include cloud, aerosol, precipitation and radiative properties. ARM sites are spatially discrete; however, they provide a broad array of co-located observations at high temporal and, in some cases vertical, resolution. Consequently, these data represent a good source of information to study atmospheric parameters and multi-variate relationships among parameters in detail over the diurnal cycle and through the vertical column. Recently, several ARM datastreams have been developed that are particularly well suited for evaluating parameter relationships and model validation. These data products combine multiple measurements on a common temporal and vertical grid. The Cloud Modeling Best Estimate (CMBE) combines measurements such as cloud fraction, surface radiation, integrated water vapor, and surface heat fluxes while the Radiatively Important Parameters Best Estimate (RIPBE) combines vertical profiles of cloud and aerosol properties, temperature, and relative humidity. The purpose of this presentation will be to review these model-oriented data products and illustrate applications that make use of multiple ARM measurements, with an emphasis on cloud properties and the atmospheric state.