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GPM Ground Validation NEXRAD GCPEx (KAPX, KBOX, KBUF, KCBW, KCXX, KGYX, KTYX) Table of Contents
The GPM Ground Validation NEXRAD GCPEx datasets were collected from seven radar sites from January 2012 through March 2012 for the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) which took place in Ontario, Canada. Radar sites include: KAPX, KBOX, KBUF, KCBW, KCXX, KGYX, and KTYX. The Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) system comprises 160 Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) sites throughout the United States and select overseas locations. The resulting data includes the base data, called Level-II, and the derived products, called Level-III. This dataset includes Level-II data which contains three meteorological base data quantities: reflectivity, mean radial velocity, and spectrum width. The GPM Ground Validation NEXRAD GCPEx data files are available as level 2 binary files and level 3 compressed binary files. CitationThe following examples show how to cite the use of these datasets in a publication. For more information, please see our Citing GHRC DAAC and Data page.
Campaign The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission Ground Validation (GV) campaign used a variety of methods for validation of GPM satellite constellation measurements prior to launch of the GPM Core Satellite, which launched on February 27th, 2014. The validation effort included numerous GPM-specific and joint-agency/international external field campaigns, using state of the art cloud and precipitation observational infrastructure (polarimetric radars, profilers, rain gauges, disdrometers). Surface rainfall was measured by very dense rain gauge and disdrometer networks at various field campaign sites. These field campaigns accounted for the majority of the effort and resources expended by Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission Ground Validation (GV). More information about the GPM mission is available here http://pmm.nasa.gov/GPM. The GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) occurred in Ontario, Canada during the winter season (Jan 15- Feb 26) of 2011-2012. GCPEx addressed shortcomings in GPM snowfall retrieval algorithm by collecting microphysical properties, associated remote sensing observations, and coordinated model simulations of precipitating snow. These data sets were collected toward achieving the overarching goal of GCPEx which is to characterize the ability of multi-frequency active and passive microwave sensors to detect and estimate falling snow. Additional information can be found at http://gpm.nsstc.nasa.gov/gcpex/. Data from seven NEXRAD locations are included in the datasets:
Instrument Description The Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD) is a pulsed Doppler weather radar used to detect and indirectly measure meteorological and hydrological phenomena. There are currently 160 radars positioned throughout the United States and in selected regions around the world. The radars are constantly scanning a few hundred kilometers around each site. The main purpose of NEXRAD is to provide real-time measurements of winds and precipitation, thus improving weather forecasting, specifically the prediction of severe weather events. The transmitter, receiver, and antenna are contained within the radar data acquisition (RDA) component of the system. The RDA derives three parameters, reflectivity, radial velocity, and Doppler spectrum width. Range resolution of the WSR-88D is 1 km for reflectivity and .25 km for velocity and spectrum width; azimuthal resolution is 1 degree for reflectivity, velocity and spectrum width. More information about NEXRAD II is available on the NOAA website https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/radar-data/nexrad and in a journal article at http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~huberm/huber+trapp.pdf. File Naming ConventionData files are named with the following convention:
Browse files are named with the following convention:
Where, Data Format The GPM Ground Validation NEXRAD GCPEx datasets include data files and browse image files. Data files are available as level 2 binary files and level 3 compressed binary files; browse images are in PNG file format. Huber, M., and Trapp, J, 2009: A Review of NEXRAD Level II: Data, Distribution, and Applications. Journal of Terrestrial Observation, 1, 5 - 15. NEXRAD. NOAA website. https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/radar-data/nexrad. Contact InformationTo order these data or for further information, please contact:
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