GPM DPR L2A Environment: Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar Profiles

Version 07 is the current version of this environmental data set from NASA's GPM mission. It provides precipitation estimates from Ku-band (245 km swath) and Ka-band (125 km swath) radar, including dual-frequency data for improved particle size distribution inference. The data includes profiles of atmospheric parameters used in retrieval algorithms.

Use Cases

• Estimate rainfall rate and liquid water content based on inferred particle size distribution.
• Discriminate among water, ice, and mixed-phase hydrometeors as a function of height.
• Analyze convective storm dynamics where bright-band signatures are not detectable.
• Calculate path integrated attenuation using differential attenuation techniques between Ku- and Ka-band frequencies.
• Detect light rainfall rates using the high-sensitivity Ka-band channel with 6 dB greater sensitivity.

Strengths

• Provides dual-frequency radar data from matched-beam Ku- and Ka-band fields of view.
• Ka-band high-sensitivity channel offers 6 dB greater sensitivity for enhanced detection of light rainfall.
• Data is produced by NASA's GPM spacecraft and is the current Version 07.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic or temporal bias inherent to the satellite's observation pattern.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Retrieved from the Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) on the core GPM spacecraft.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 02:07:45.364741; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global coverage from satellite swaths (245 km Ku-band, 125 km Ka-band).