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GPM Ground Validation CARE Satellite Overpass Images GCPEx

Table of Contents

Introduction
Citation
Campaign
Investigators
File Naming Convention
Data Format
Contact Information

Introduction

The GPM Ground Validation CARE Satellite Overpass Images GCPEx dataset includes the satellite overpass images for the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) which occurred in Ontario, Canada, January 15, 2012 through February 28, 2012. Browse images showing the satellite tracks of Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites (numbers 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19) are included in the dataset because they were passing within 500 kilometers of the GCPEx campaign CARE site. More information about the DMSP satellites and a chart with the instruments included on each satellite can be found here.

Citation

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

L'Ecuyer, T. 2014. GPM Ground Validation CARE Satellite Overpass Images 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: http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/GCPEX/OVERPASS/DATA201

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 of 2011-2012. GCPEx addressed limitations in the GPM snowfall retrieval algorithm through the collection of microphysical properties, associated remote sensing observations, and coordinated model simulations of precipitating snow. The dataset was collected to aid in achieving the overarching goal of GCPEx, to characterize the ability of multi-frequency active and passive microwave sensors to detect and estimate falling snow. During GCPEx, the ground instruments were located at three sites in Ontario, Canada. The coordinates of the CARE site (which is marked in the browse images in this dataset) is, Lat: 44.23, Lon: -79.78. Further information on the GCPEx campaign is available at http://gpm.nsstc.nasa.gov/gcpex.

Investigators

Tristan L'Ecuyer
University of Wisconsin
Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
1225 W. Dayton St.
Madison, WI 53706

File Naming Convention

The GPM Ground Validation CARE Satellite Overpass Images GCPEx dataset includes browse images in PNG format. The files are named with the following convention:

GCPEX.YYYYMMDD.*_noaa15.*_noaa16.*_noaa17.*_noaa18.*_noaa19.png

Where,

GCPEX = GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment
YYYYMMDD = year, month, and day the image represents
* = number of overpasses listed for each satellite in the image
_noaa(15 � 19) = satellite name
png = image file format

Data Format

The dataset includes browse images in PNG format showing the orbit tracks of NOAA satellites (NOAA 15, NOAA 16, NOAA 17, NOAA 18, and NOAA 19) with overpasses within 500 kilometers of the GCPEx campaign CARE site; there is an image for each day of the campaign with the time each satellite is passing over shown in GMT time. A text file is also included which gives the satellite information by day but in a list format.

Contact Information

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: support-ghrc@earthdata.nasa.gov
Web: http://ghrc.nsstc.nasa.gov/

 

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