The University of Utah received a $548,859 research grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to support the Cloud and Aerosol Monsoonal Processes-Philippines Experiment (CAMP2EX), with work concluding on January 23, 2025. The project focuses on characterizing the physical properties of shallow and cumulus congestus clouds across varying aerosol conditions in the Philippines region, with emphasis on understanding how aerosol-modulated droplet numbers influence precipitation formation and cloud lifetime. The research employs a synergistic approach combining active multi-frequency Doppler radar with passive microwave brightness temperature measurements, utilizing NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory Airborne Precipitation and Cloud Radar 3rd Generation (APR-3) and the Marshall Advanced Microwave Precipitation Radiometer (AMPR) to simultaneously characterize cloud and precipitation microphysics, as well as turbulent vertical and horizontal air motions.
The award is structured as a research grant with no set-aside designation, reflecting a competitive selection based on the University of Utah's technical qualifications and established expertise in atmospheric science research. The university's Office of Sponsored Projects Division will manage the award, leveraging the institution's comprehensive research infrastructure and multidisciplinary capabilities in environmental sciences and space exploration. The project will produce advanced Level-2 data products that characterize simultaneous cloud and precipitation structure, providing critical datasets for understanding cloud-aerosol interactions in tropical monsoon regions and contributing to broader scientific understanding of aerosol influences on cloud processes and precipitation development.