ESSDD Earth System Science Data Discussions ESSDD Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss. 1866-3591 Göttingen, Germany 10.5194/essd-2026-241 The Arctic Radiation-Cloud-Aerosol-Surface Interaction Experiment (ARCSIX) airborne campaign dataset Taylor Patrick C. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8098-8447 1 Sorooshian Armin https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2243-2264 2 3 Ueyama Rei 4 Schmidt Sebastian https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3899-228X 5 6 Abboud Ihab 27 Allison Quincy 4 7 Barry Kevin https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1896-1921 8 Becker Sebastian 9 10 Bender Holly A. 11 Bennett Joseph R. 4 7 Blair James B. 12 Bohn Niklas 11 Boisvert Linette 12 Brown Matthew D. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2058-2442 1 Bruintjes Roelof 13 Bucholtz Anthony 14 Buzanowicz Megan 1 15 Cairns Brian 16 Calì Quaglia Filippo https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5557-1626 17 Chemyakin Eduard 1 Chen Bo https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0587-0446 8 Chen Gao 1 Chen Hong https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7427-2031 4 Chen Yu-Wen https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8420-032X 4 5 Cheng Zezhen https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6320-4519 18 China Swarup https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7670-335X 18 Chirica Dan 4 Choi Yonghoon https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6529-4722 1 Colarco Peter https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3525-1662 12 Collister Brian 1 Crosbie Ewan 1 52 Cross Maurice J. 1 Daniels Janet 1 19 DeMott Paul https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3719-1889 8 DiGangi Joshua P. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6764-8624 1 di Sarra Alcide Giorgio 20 Diskin Glenn S. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3617-0269 1 Dolinar Erica K. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1451-4478 21 Edwards Eva-Lou 1 Ephraim Samuel 22 Evangeliou Nikolaos https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7196-1018 23 Foskinis Romanos https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0221-3328 24 Gallo Francesca https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4938-647X 1 Gao Lan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6607-3240 25 Gómez-Amo José Luis 26 Gonzalez Daisy 4 7 Groot Zwaaftink Christine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4286-5438 23 Gupta Pawan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0979-472X 12 Heckman Ivan 24 Hendrickson Michael https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8294-7294 12 28 Hilario Miguel Ricardo A. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3649-3428 2 53 Hirata Ken https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1194-3672 5 6 Hofton Michelle 29 Holen Andrew L. 30 Im Ulas https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5177-5306 24 31 Khan Alia L. 32 Kahn Ralph https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5234-6359 5 12 Korolev Alexei V. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3877-8419 27 Kreidenweis Sonia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2561-2914 8 Krumpen Thomas https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6234-8756 33 Kurtz Nathan 12 Lait Leslie https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8363-859X 4 Lamkin Bradley 25 Landy Jack https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7372-1007 34 Lata Nurun Nahar 18 Lawson Paul https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0840-7780 35 LeBlanc Samuel https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0173-3890 4 7 Leavor Sean 1 15 Li Jing 36 Markus Thorsten 37 Maring Hal 37 Massling Andreas H. 31 Mavis Camille https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5819-6177 8 McGinnity Flynn 38 Meyer Kerry https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5361-9200 12 Mojica Gabriel 1 15 Moore Richard H. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2911-4469 1 Morris Parker 35 Muscari Giovanni https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6326-2612 17 Nataraja Vikas https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5532-9247 4 5 Nehrir Amin R. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8224-193X 1 Nenes Athanasios https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3873-9970 24 31 39 Nowottnick Edward P. 37 Ottaviani Matteo 16 40 Parker Chelsea https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8026-6957 12 41 Patnaude Ryan 8 Perez Michael 22 Perkins Russell J. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2351-2362 8 Peterson Colten 12 42 Petty Alek https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0307-3216 12 41 Phothisane Stevie 4 7 Polashenski Chris 43 44 Pratt Kerri A. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4707-2290 30 Preisler Kayla M. 2 Prytherch John https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1209-289X 45 Rabine David 12 Redemann Jens https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2404-7984 25 Ryoo Ju-Mee 4 7 Schlosser Joseph S. 1 46 Selimovic Vanessa 30 Shook Michael A. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2659-484X 1 Silverman Morgan 1 19 Skov Henrik https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1167-8696 31 Smirnov Alexander https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8208-1304 12 51 Soloff Cassidy https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9491-3115 2 Solomon Amy 9 Stamnes Snorre https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6666-0672 1 Takeishi Azusa 35 54 Thompson David R. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1100-7550 11 Thornhill K. Lee 1 19 Tilling Rachel 12 41 Tjernström Michael 47 Tosco Monica https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3864-8632 17 48 49 Valdelomar Pedro C. 26 Van Gilst David 4 7 Wang Jian https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2815-4170 36 Wang Zhien https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3871-3834 38 Wasilewski Andrzej 16 28 Wendisch Manfred https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4652-5561 50 Wilder Brent 11 Winstead Edward L. 1 Wu Albert https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0853-5117 12 15 Xian Peng https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9661-8045 21 Zamora Lauren M. 12 41 Zhang Jiaoshi https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8428-3527 36 Zhang Lei https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0392-0641 36 Zhang Lu https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5398-0693 31 Ziemba Luke 1 Zuidema Paquita https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4719-372X 22 NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681, USA Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA Earth Science Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA Bay Area Environmental Research Institute, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA Cooperative Institute for Research in the Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA Institute of Geophysics and Meteorology, University of Cologne, 50969 Cologne, Germany Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91001, USA NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), 1850 Table Mesa Dr, Boulder, CO 80305 Department of Meteorology, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA 93943, USA ADNET Systems Inc., Bethesda, Maryland NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, NY Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, 00147 Rome, Italy Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA 99352, USA Analytical Mechanics Associates, Hampton, VA, 23666 Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Frascati, 00044, Italy U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, CA 93943, USA Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Rosenstiel School, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33149, USA Department for Atmospheric and Climate Research (ATMOS), Stiftelsen NILU (former Norwegian Institute for Air Research), 2007 Kjeller, Norway EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, OK 73072, USA Solar Radiation Group, University of Valencia, Burjassot, Spain Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto. ON, M3H 5T4, Canada Autonomic Integra LLC, Bethesea, MD, USA Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research, University of Colorado – Boulder, CO, USA Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrumfu¨rPolar-und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany University of Tromsø: The Arctic University of Norway, Norway SPEC Incorporated, Boulder, Colorado, USA 80301 Center for Aerosol Science and Engineering, Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis; St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA NASA Headquarters, Washington DC, 20546, USA School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA FORTH, Patras, Greece Terra Research Inc, Hoboken, NJ 07030 Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, Maryland Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research (GESTAR) II, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hanover, NH, USA Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden Hampton University, Center for Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Hampton, VA, USA Department of Meteorology and Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Mestre, 30172, Italy Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Rome, 00123, Italy Institute for Meteorology, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany Science Systems and Applications, Inc., Lanham, MD, USA now at: Urban Sky, Denver, CO 80216 now at: Space Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA now at: NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), 1850 Table Mesa Dr, Boulder, CO 80305 24 07 2026 2026 1 77 Copyright: © 2026 Patrick C. Taylor et al. 2026 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This article is available from https://essd.copernicus.org/preprints/essd-2026-241/ The full text article is available as a PDF file from https://essd.copernicus.org/preprints/essd-2026-241/essd-2026-241.pdf

The NASA airborne Arctic Radiation-Cloud-aerosol-Surface-Interaction Experiment (ARCSIX) collected a unique data set providing a near-simultaneous characterization of radiative fluxes, surface, cloud, and aerosol particle properties to address science questions on the surface radiation budget, the processes governing the cloud lifecycle, atmospheric composition, and the interactions between the surface and atmosphere. The overarching goal of ARCSIX was to quantify the contributions of surface, clouds, aerosol particles, and precipitation to summer sea ice melt. ARCSIX consisted of two deployments in 2024 (Spring: 2024-05-28 through 2024-06-13 and Summer: 2024-07-25 through 2024-08-15) to capture pre- and post-melt conditions. ARCSIX provided coordinated remote sensing and <em>in situ</em> sampling using three aircraft in a high-flyer/low-flyer configuration. The NASA G-III served as the high-flying remote sensing platform with two lower flying <em>in situ</em> and near-target remote sensor observing platforms, NASA P-3B and SPEC Inc. Learjet. ARCSIX data are well-suited to improve satellite remote sensing capabilities in the Arctic. ARCSIX included an array of sea ice mass balance buoys deployed in the Lincoln Sea that were regularly overflown during the campaign. ARCSIX research flights spanned the Baffin Bay, Lincoln Sea, west and north of the Canadian Archipelago, and the Greenland north and northeast coasts. During the spring deployment, 19 research flights took place covering 114 flight hours: 10 flights and 68 hours by the P-3B and nine flights and 46 hours by the G-III. During summer, 24 research flights covered 136 flight hours: nine flights and 75 hours by the P-3B, five flights and 26 hours by the G-III, and 10 flights and 35 hours by the Learjet. A total of 13 coordinated flights with 2+ aircraft were carried out. This paper describes the ARCSIX flight strategy, instrumentation, and data set access, and usage details. ARCSIX data are publicly available at <a href="https://doi.org/10.5067/SUBORBITAL/ARCSIX/DATA001" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://doi.org/10.5067/SUBORBITAL/ARCSIX/DATA001</a>.

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