CEPEX: Central Equatorial Pacific Experiment

Summary

The overall scientific goal of CEPEX was to establish the relative roles of cirrus radiative effects and surface evaporation in limiting maximum sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

Objectives:

The specific experimental objectives of CEPEX were:
1) To measure, by direct atmospheric observations, the vertical structure of the water vapor greenhouse effect;
2) To measure the effect of cirrus on radiation fluxes over the equatorial Pacific Ocean;
3) To measure the east-west gradients of sea surface temperatures and the evaporative and sensible heat flux from the sea surface along the equatorial Pacific Ocean;
4) To measure the east-west gradients of vertical distribution of water vapor along the equatorial Pacific Ocean; and
5) To explore the microphysical factors contributing to high albedo of widespread cirrus layers.

Maximum (North) Latitude: 21.345, Minimum (South) Latitude: -20.00
Minimum (West) Longitude: 140.00, Maximum (East) Longitude: -161.754