GPM_2AKuENV: Ku-Band Radar Precipitation and Atmospheric Profiles

Version 07 is the current version of this environmental dataset from NASA's GPM mission. It contains profiles of atmospheric parameters used in the retrieval algorithm and precipitation estimates from the Ku-band radar on the GPM spacecraft's Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar. The data is produced independently of the Ka-band radar, ensuring availability even if that instrument has operational issues.

Use Cases

• Modeling precipitation rates based on Ku-band radar slant-path retrievals.
• Analyzing atmospheric parameter profiles used in the L2 retrieval algorithm.
• Studying global precipitation patterns from a single-frequency satellite radar source.
• Comparing single-frequency (Ku) and dual-frequency (DPR) precipitation retrieval performance.

Strengths

• Data is from NASA's authoritative GPM (Global Precipitation Measurement) mission.
• Current version is V07, superseding all older versions for consistency.
• Product is generated independently of the Ka-band radar, reducing dependency on a single instrument's status.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and spatial/temporal coverage details are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) via the GES DISC.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing data from the Ku-band radar on the GPM spacecraft's Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar.

Time Range

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Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 02:28:45.742639; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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