GHRC Published CPL IMPACTS Dataset

The NASA Global Hydrology Resource Center (GHRC) DAAC published the Cloud Physics LiDAR (CPL) IMPACTS dataset. This dataset consists of backscatter coefficient, lidar depolarization ratio, layer top/base height, layer type, particulate extinction coefficient, ice water content, and layer/cumulative optical depth data collected from the Cloud Physics LiDAR (CPL) onboard the NASA ER-2 high-altitude research aircraft in support of the Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Snowstorms (IMPACTS) field campaign. IMPACTS was a three-year sequence of winter season deployments conducted to study snowstorms over the U.S Atlantic Coast (2020-2022). The campaign aimed to (1) Provide observations critical to understanding the mechanisms of snowband formation, organization, and evolution; (2) Examine how the microphysical characteristics and likely growth mechanisms of snow particles vary across snowbands; and (3) Improve snowfall remote sensing interpretation and modeling to significantly advance prediction capabilities. The dataset files are available in HDF-5 format from January 15 through March 2, 2020. It should be noted that the ER-2 aircraft did not operate each day of the campaign, therefore, data are only available on flight days.

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