Useful Information for FAAM data users

Access to data, documentation and software

1. Where to find the data
   

   The FAAM data archive is HERE. – However, see the "Conditions of access" below if you want to access the FAAM data for the first time. –

   The FAAM archive contains Data, documentation and software supplied to the BADC by the FAAM and project teams, from where they can be viewed and downloaded.
2. Conditions of access
   Data is collected on a project-by-project basis and may be subject to specific access conditions/restrictions although most processed core data and some non-core data are of publicly available (registration and application required - anyone can apply).

   For details of FAAM Campaigns and to apply for access please click HERE

3. For easy reference, the FAAM flights schedule gives an overview of the past campaigns and test flights and the archive population table lists the flights and shows which files are present for each. These tables contain links to the data.

Met Office Users

NCAS Users

Instructions to data providers

Data file names. Data providers - please follow the FAAM File Name Convention.
Data file format. Please format your processed data in NetCDF, using the CF metadata conventions. NASA Ames formatted files will also be accepted for non-core data. Raw data are submitted in the specific instrument output format. Please ensure that adequate documentation is submitted with the data - see the Metadata definitions and requirements.
Data file submission.
• Core data from field campaigns and all data from test flights (submission restricted to FAAM instrument operators): please follow the instructions displayed on the FAAM Core Data Submission page.
• Non-core data from field campaigns: via the web uploader of the relevant project. Large amounts of files can also be submitted by FTP to ingest.ftp.badc.rl.ac.uk login and use the directory /incoming/project-name. For help with FTP see the BADC FTP guide.
  Useful tools:
• NASA-Ames checker
• NetCDF file checker

Services

• An private online storage space, accessible by FTP, has been created for the scientists involved in FAAM test flights. Apply to the FAAM Test Flights storage space. Your application will be submitted for approval to the the FAAM Manager.
• A specifically dedicated FAAM-Chemistry project space for exchanging information about the new FAAM NOx data processing has been set up.
  To gain access the FTP FAAAM-Chemistry project-space you will need to be registered with BADC (Register) and
  • apply to the FAAM-Chemistry FTP project space and be authorised by the project management team.

  The workspace can then be accessed by FTP to proj-ftp.ceda.ac.uk directory project_spaces/faam-chemistry_ps.

  For help with FTP see the BADC FTP guide. Access to view and download files may be obtained via your web browser using the URL ftp://username@proj-ftp.ceda.ac.uk (you will be prompted for your password) however to upload files you will need an FTP client.

• NetCDF file checker
• NASA-Ames checker
• Data file uploader

Documentation and Tools

• Description of available tables showing archive contents. Tables 1-3 below.
  1. Tables showing archive contents arranged by flight number/date and by campaign with links to the archive. now showing presence of dropsonde and video data and details of non-core files.
  2. FAAM Flight Schedule - Calendar of past FAAM flights based on the data archived - Updated daily.
  3. Tables showing which core parameters were measured for each flight.
• general access rules
• List of FAAM campaigns, with links to the relevant BADC web pages and specific data access conditions.
• FAAM Data Protocol.
• FAAM Conditions of Use applying to FAAM core data.
• How to acknowledge FAAM in research papers and publications
• Metadata definitions and requirements.
• Instrument metadata: measured parameters and instrument specifications.
• NetCDF format and CF metadata conventions.
  This page includes a list of links to Downloadable NetCDF handling tools .
• NASA Ames format.
• FAAM Data File Names.
• Instructions on FAAM Data Submission applying to core and test flight data.
• TARDIS – Met Office software to process raw core data on VMS computers.
• Routines provided by Jonathan Crosier (University of Manchester) to read NetCDF files with IGOR are stored in the BADC FAAM software archive.

Links to further or related information

• The Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) Web site – BAe-146-301 aircraft
• The joint NERC-DLR Airborne Remote Sensing Facility (ARSF) – Dornier 228-101 aircraft (Do-228)
• The EUropean Facility for Airborne Research EUFAR
• The UK Met Office Research Flight (MRF) Welcome Page at BADC – C-130 Hercules aircraft
• Software for Manipulating or Displaying NetCDF Data. A fairly complete list of existing freely available and commercial or licensed software packages to write, read and handle NetCDF files, provided by Unidata.
• Igor software to read NetCDF files. See also routines provided by Jonathan Crosier (University of Manchester) in the BADC FAAM software archive.
• Downloadable AEROS software to read NetCDF files (includes a version for Linux and a version for Windows).
• World Air news article about FAAM

Citation

• FAAM, UK Meteorological Office, Natural Environment Research Council, [Smith, M.;Perry, A.; Gratton, G.]. Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM), [Internet]. British Atmospheric Data Centre, 2004-, Date of citation. Available from http://badc.nerc.ac.uk/data/faam/.
• See also How to reference and acknowledge the FAAM facility in research papers and publications

Who to contact