GCPEx

GHRC has started publishing data from the the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx). The GPM Ground Validation DC-8 Navigation and Housekeeping Data GCPEX dataset is composed of two types of files. National Suborbital Education and Research Center (NSERC) of the University of North Dakota (UND) provided the geo-located housekeeping data containing the altitude, pressure, air speed, wind speed and other attributes. The NASA DC-8 Navigation data in comma delimited IWG1 format were collected and utilized in-flight during the GCPEx mission and retrieved from the Real-Time Mission Monitor.

GHRC has published the GPM Ground Validation  DC-8 Camera Nadir GCPEx dataset.  This  dataset contains geo-located visible-wavelength imagery of the ground obtained from the nadir camera aboard the NASA DC-8 in Canada during the Cold-season Precipitation experiment.  The data is available only  for February 20, 2012, a clear-air flight day.   DC-8 Camera nadir data may be useful for determining snow cover and lake ice cover for emissivity studies in conjunction with CoSMIR data, for example.   The dataset also includes, for convenience and reproducibility,  aircraft navigation information and ground temperatures to aid in emissivity retrievals.

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 has published the GPM Ground Validation Compact Scanning Millimeter-wave Imaging Radiometer (CoSMIR) GCPEx dataset. The CoSMIR plays the role as an airborne high-frequency simulator for the GPM Microwave Imager (GMI), which will launch in 2014.  The CoSMIR was modified with a new scan mode to acquire both conical and cross-track scan data simultaneously in a given flight satisfying the requirements of the Precipitation Measurement Mission (PMM) algorithm development team.  This CoSMIR dataset provides well-calibrated radiometric data from 9 channels between 50-183GHz with the  accuracy on the order of +-1K.  All channels besides the 89 and 165.5 GHz are horizontally polarized.

GHRC has released GPM Ground Validation Airborne Second Generation Precipitation Radar (APR-2) GCPEx dataset.  The Second Generation Airborne Precipitation Radar (APR-2) is a dual-frequency (13 GHz and 35 GHz), Doppler, dual-polarization radar system. It has a downward looking antenna that performs cross track scans, covering a swath that is +/- 25 to each side of the aircraft path. Additional features include: simultaneous dual-frequency, matched beam operation at 13.4 and 35.6 GHz (same as GPM Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar), simultaneous measurement of both like- and cross-polarized signals at both frequencies, Doppler operation, and real-time pulse compression (so that calibrated reflectivity data can be produced for large areas in the field during flight, if necessary). The APR-2 flew aboard the NASA DC-8 for the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) from 11 January to 25 February, 2012.

GHRC has released the GPM Ground Validation Environment Canada (EC) Micro Rain Radar (MRR) GCPEx dataset.  Environment Canada (EC) collected data from the Micro Rain Radar (MRR) during the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) in Ontario, Canada during the winter season 2012. Operating at 24 GHz the MRR, a vertically pointing Doppler radar, retrieved quantitative rain rates, drop size distributions, radar reflectivity, fall velocities on vertical profiles up to several kilometers above the unit.

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 published another GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) dataset: GPM Ground Validation NASA Micro Rain Radar (MRR) GCPEx. This second generation MRR is a vertically pointing Doppler radar providing measurements of vertical velocity, drop size distribution, rainfall rate, attenuation, liquid water content, and reflectivity factor. The NASA MRR data was collected in Canada from late October 2011 through March 2013.

GHRC has completed publication of two GCPEX (Global precipitation mission Cold-season Precipitation EXperiment) datasets, GPM Ground Validation Autonomous Parsivel Unit (APU) GCPEx and GPM Ground Validation Pluvio Precipitation Gauge GCPEx.  The  GPM Ground Validation Autonomous Parsivel Unit (APU) GCPEx dataset collects data by an optical disdrometer based on single particle extinction that measures particle size and fall velocity. This APU consists of the Parsivel, which was developed by Ott Hydomet in Kempton, Germany, and its support systems, which were designed and built by the University of Alabama in Huntsville. The APU dataset for the GCPEX provides precipitation data including raindrop size and counts, precipitation drop size, rate and amount and snowflake size, counts and distribution. The GCPEx APU data was collected from several sites in Canada during the Winter 2011-2012 period.

GHRC has published the GPM Ground Validation Pluvio Precipitation Gauge GCPEx.  The Pluvio rain gauge dataset contains both one minute measurement and a  cumulative record of the accumulation and intensity for liquid,  solid, and mixed precipitation collected during the  GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx).   GCPEx  took place in Ontario, Canada  during the Winter season December 2011- February 2012 where  data was collected at five  sites:  Environment Centre for Atmospheric Research Experiments (CARE), Huronia, Steamshow, Skydive and Morton. The new generation Pluvio was designed by Ott Hydromet in Kempten, Germany.