Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Data Center
https://arm.gov/ The ARM Data Center provides a platform that serves as a repository for atmospheric research by the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program which aims to improve the understanding of the Earth's atmosphere and climate systems by storing a centralized comprehensive data repository for measurements and field projects. Datasets available include measurements such as radiation, aerosols, atmospheric compositions and much more: including Cloud Base Height and Stereo Cameras for Clouds at https://arm.gov/capabilities/instruments/ceil and https://www.arm.gov/capabilities/instruments/stereocam
The majority and greatest concentration of sites are located in Oklahoma and Kansas (the Southern Great Planes (SGP)) with sites at:
- Hillsboro, KS
- Vici, OK
- Morris, OK
- Purcell, OK
- Lamont, OK
- Ashton, KS
- Marshall, OK
- Billings, OK
However, within the SGP region, only the Central Facility, Lamont, OK (C1) and Billings, OK (Site H for AWAKEN) (S6) sites are up-to-date (as of 2023-06-20) with the next dataset only being updated last in 2022. Data given here include points such as:
Cloud Base Height in meters (m) (max height of 7700m) and time of day in UTC for up to three layers of cloud base heights in 16 second intervals. The sites also have backscattered radiation figures. However, based on the above data obtained via the ceilometer, thin cloud layers are discarded resulting in slightly higher cloud bottom height which may have a slight impact when paired with camera images.
Stereo Camera Images in JPEG format taken at 20 second intervals during the day and 6 minute intervals during the night with an image resolution of 2592×1944. Each camera pair is positioned at approximately 120 degrees from the other pair, with a 17deg-19deg pitch angle from the ground, and at 5-6 km distance from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Central Facility at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility Southern Great Plains (SGP) observatory to cover the region from northeast, northwest, and southern views.
As of 2023-06-22, there are no data points available for the Northern Great Plains or any nearby sights for Grand Forks.
A comprehensive list of the available ceilometers and their status and other areas of operation are available in the handbook are provided here: http://www.arm.gov/publications/tech_reports/handbooks/ceil_handbook.pdf
Link to Lamont, OK Ceilometer 10m resolution Dataset: https://adc.arm.gov/discovery/#/results/id::sgpceil10mC1.b1_third_cbh_macro_ceil_cloud?measurementsView=true&dataLevel=b1&showDetails=true
Link to Billings, OK Ceilometer 10m resolution Dataset: https://adc.arm.gov/discovery/#/results/id::sgpceil10mS6.b1_backscatter_macro_ceil_cloud?dataLevel=b1&showDetails=true
Camera and lens parameters along with other specifications for the Datasets for STEREOCAM: Stereo Cameras for Clouds is also provided with the handbook here: https://www.arm.gov/publications/tech_reports/handbooks/stereocam_handbook.pdf
Link to Lamont, OK STEREOCAM dataset:
Link to Billings, OK STEREOCAM dataset: