IMPACTS Campaign Precipitation Microphysics Data

Autonomous Parsivel Unit (APU) IMPACTS data provides precipitation observations for the Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Snowstorms campaign. The dataset includes measurements of precipitation amount, rate, reflectivity, liquid water content, drop diameter, and drop concentration. It was collected by the GHRC DAAC and covers a specific campaign period in early 2020.

Use Cases

• Analyzing snowband formation mechanisms using precipitation rate and reflectivity data.
• Studying snow particle microphysics and growth mechanisms via drop diameter and concentration measurements.
• Improving snowfall remote sensing algorithms by correlating liquid water content with other observed parameters.
• Validating and improving numerical weather prediction models for snowstorms with in-situ precipitation amount data.

Strengths

• Data originates from a focused NASA field campaign (IMPACTS) designed to study snowstorm mechanisms.
• Covers multiple key precipitation variables including drop diameter, concentration, and liquid water content.
• Available across multiple authoritative platforms (NASA Earthdata and Data.gov), indicating established provenance.

Limitations

• Specific row count, file size, and complete column names are not provided by any source.
• Conflicting metadata exists: one source lists a last update date of 2026-03-13, while another lists 2020-02 29.
• Data is limited to a short, specific time range from a single campaign.

Provenance

Source

GHRC_DAAC (Global Hydrology Resource Center Distributed Active Archive Center)

Collection Method

Collected by Autonomous Parsivel Unit (APU) instruments during the IMPACTS field campaign.

Time Range

January 15, 2020 through February 29, 2020

Freshness

2026-03-13 11:44:44.149895

Geography

Atlantic Coast region of the United States (implied by campaign focus)