GPM Ground Validation Environment Canada (EC) Manual Precipitation Measurements GCPEx

Table of Contents

Introduction

The GPM Ground Validation Environment Canada (EC) Manual Precipitation Measurements GCPEx data set includes measurements of precipitation amount, weight, snow water equivalent, and weather conditions. The data was collected using a Tretyakov precipitation gauge with a double-fence intercomparison reference (DFIR) shield during the period of January 18, 2012 to March 28, 2012 for the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) in Ontario, Canada. The information is available in .xls Microsoft Excel 97-2003 Worksheet format.

The following example shows how to cite the use of this data set in a publication. For more information, please see our Citing GHRC DAAC and Data page.

Hudak, David. 2014. GPM Ground Validation Environment Canada (EC) Manual Precipitation Measurements GCPEx [indicate subset used]. Data set available online [http://ghrc.nsstc.nasa.gov/] from the NASA EOSDIS Global Hydrology Resource Center Distributed Active Archive Center, Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.A. doi: 10.5067/GPMGV/GCPEX/GAUGES/DATA101

The GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) occurred in Ontario, Canada during the winter season of 2011-2012. GCPEx addressed shortcomings in the GPM snowfall retrieval algorithm by collecting microphysical properties, associated remote sensing observations, and coordinated model simulations of precipitating snow. These data sets were collected to aid in the achievement of the over arching goal of GCPEx which is to characterize the ability of multi-frequency active and passive microwave sensors to detect and estimate falling snow.

During GCPEX, a Tretyakov precipitation gauge was located at the CARE site in Ontario, Canada. The coordinates of the CARE site are:

            Lat: 44°13'59.45"N, Lon: 79°46'50.11"W.

Data was collected from January 18, 2012 through March 28, 2012. Further details on GCPEx are available at http://gpm.nsstc.nasa.gov/gcpex. Information on the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission is available at http://pmm.nasa.gov/GPM.

The Tretyakov gauge is a precipitation gauge consisting of a cylindrical collector with an orifice area of 200 cm inside of a conic wind shield composed of 15 plates. The gauge is placed in the center of a double-fence intercomparison reference (DFIR) shield comprised of concentric octagonal wooden lath fences.

Investigators

David Hudak
Cloud Physics and Severe Weather Research Section
Environment Canada
King City, Canada

File Naming Convention

The GPM Ground Validation Environment Canada (EC) Manual Precipitation Measurements GCPEx data set is available in .xls Microsoft Excel 97-2003 Worksheet format. The file is named:

gcpex_manual_observation_precipitation_EC_CARE_v2.xls

where,

gcpex = GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment
EC = Environment Canada
CARE = The Centre for Atmospheric Research Experiments
xls = Microsoft Excel spreadsheet file

The file contains measurements of precipitation amount, weight, snow water equivalent, and weather conditions at recorded points in time during the study period.

The GPM Ground Validation Environment Canada (EC) Manual Precipitation Measurements GCPEx data set is available in .xls Microsoft Excel 97-2003 Worksheet format.

To order these data or for further information, please contact:

Global Hydrology Resource Center
User Services
320 Sparkman Drive
Huntsville, AL 35805
Phone: 256-961-7932
E-mail: ghrcdaac@itsc.uah.edu
Web: http://ghrc.nsstc.nasa.gov/