GCPEx

GHRC added the GPM Ground Validation Two-Dimensional Video Disdrometer (2DVD) GCPEx dataset to its GPM GCPEX dataset collection. Collected from six sites in Ontario, Canada, the data contains daily ASCII files with information on individual snowflakes and hydrometeors, and also binary files preprocessed from raw camera data. Overall data dates range from 27 October 2011 through 27 February 2012 depending on the specific site. GHRC also has related 2DVD datasets for data from the LPVEX and  MC3E experiments and data collected at the National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC).

GHRC has released the GPM Ground Validation Meteorological Tower Environment Canada GCPEx dataset as part of the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) where data was gathered over the Ontario region of Canada in 2012 from Jan 15 through March 1. This dataset provides temperature, relative humidity, 10m winds, pressure and solar radiation data collected by a suite of standard meteorological instruments attached to a 10m met tower. The observation station was assembled by Automated Transportable Meteorological Observation Station (ATMOS). Browse images are available on-line.

GHRC published four guides for instruments participating in GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx): GPM Ground Validation Airborne Second Generation Precipitation Radar (APR-2) GCPEx,GPM Ground Validation Conical Scanning Millimeter-wave Imaging Radiometer (CoSMIR) GCPEx, GPM Ground Validation UND Citation Navigation Data GCPEX and GPM Ground Validation DC-8 Camera Nadir GCPEx. The APR-2 is a a dual-frequency (13 GHz and 35 GHz), Doppler, dual-polarization radar system measuring doppler velocity, precipitation rate, radar backscatter and reflectivity. As an airborne high-frequency simulator emulating the GPM Microwave Imager (GMI), CoSMIR measures brightness temperature and microwave radiance. GCPEX occurred in Ontario, Canada during January-February 2012. The UND Citation Navigation dataset documents the navigation data for the cloud microphysics instruments that it carried. The DC -8 Camera Nadir dataset contains geo-located visible-wavelength imagery of the ground obtained from the nadir camera aboard the NASA DC-8 for the clear-air flight day February 20, 2012; these images may be useful for determining snow cover and lake ice cover for emissivity studies in conjunction with CoSMIR data.

GHRC published two similar datasets associated with the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Ground Validation program: GPM Ground Validation Composite Satellite Overpasses MC3E and GPM Ground Validation Composite Satellite Overpasses GCPEX. Each of these datasets provide data from satellite overpasses of the study region for the mission Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E), Oklahoma 2011, or the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx), Canada 2012. The radiometric data was matched up with other datasets necessary to carry out land surface emissivity studies. These other datasets include the NEXRAD NMQ radar mosaic for knowledge of rain structure and intensity at the time of the overpass, as well as the previous accumulated precipitation prior to the satellite overpass time), the NOAA IMS snow mapping system (to identify surface snow or ice cover), and the NASA/GMAO MERRA land and atmospheric reanalysis (for background land and atmospheric state needed for microwave radiative transfer calculations). The AQUA satellite overpasses were used for MC3E and SSMIS for GCPEX, passing within 700-km of the central field site.

GHRC published the GPM Ground Validation Pluvio Precipitation Gauge GCPEx  and GPM Ground Validation DC-8 Navigation and Housekeeping Data GCPEX guides from the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx). The Pluvio rain gauge dataset collection contains both one minute measurement and a cumulative record of the accumulation and intensity for liquid, solid, and mixed precipitation. The DC-8 Navigation files are provided the National Suborbital Education and Research Center (NSERC) at the University of North Dakota (UND) has geo-located housekeeping data containing the altitude, pressure, air speed, wind speed and other attributes in the ICARTT format. The DC-8 Navigation dataset also contains navigation information retrieved from the Real-Time Mission Monitor (RTMM) collected and utilized in-flight during the mission in a comma delimited IWG1 format.

GHRC published the GPM Ground Validation Environment Canada (EC) Vaisala Ceilometer GCPEx dataset.  Environment Canada (EC) collected ceilometer data during the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) in Huronia, Canada from January 15, 2012 through March 1, 2012. The CT25K ceilometer uses pulsed diode laser LIDAR technology to derive backscatter profiles, cloud heights and vertical visibilities. It is also able to detect 3 cloud layers simultaneously.

GHRC has published the GPM Ground Validation Environment Canada (EC) Precipitation Occurrence Sensor System (POSS) GCPExdataset. Data was gathered during the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment which took place in Ontario, Canada, January 15 - March 1, 2012. The POSS is a bi-static X-band Doppler radar designed by Environment Canada. The POSS measures a signal whose frequency is proportional to the particle Doppler velocity and whose amplitude is proportional to the particle scattering cross-section. Its measurements can be used provide information regarding precipitation occurrence, type, rate, and raindrop size distribution.

GHRC has published the GPM Ground Validation Environment Canada (EC) Visibility Sensor FD12P and Present Weather Detector GCPEx dataset.  These data were collected data January 15 through March 1, 2012 in Huronia, Canada for the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx). The FD12P weather sensor combines the functions of a forward scatter visibility meter and a present weather detector. It also measures the intensity and the amount of both liquid and solid precipitation.

GHRC has published the GPM Ground Validation Environment Canada (EC) Web Camera Images GCPEx dataset.  These images GCPEx were taken at 5 site locations in Ontario, Canada during the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) which occurred January 15 through March 1, 2012.  Mounted as a fixed outdoor camera, the AXIS P1343-E network camera has day/night functionality with an automatically controlled IR filter, adapting to both daylight and dark lighting conditions.  These images provided visual records throughout the day of the weather conditions at the site.

The GPM Ground Validation NASA Micro Rain Radar (MRR) guide describes the data format and the vertically pointing Doppler radar which provides measurements of vertical velocity, drop size distribution, rainfall rate, attenuation, liquid water content, and reflectivity factor obtained during the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx), which took place in Canada during Winter 2011-2012. The MRR is a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) vertically pointing Doppler radar, which operates at 24.24GHz, and it is the second generation of the instrument manufactured by METEK (http://www.metek.de/product-details/mrr-2.html). NASA MRR data was collected from late October 2011 through March 2013.