Airborne Dual-Frequency Radar Observations of Winter Precipitation in Ontario

Ontario, Canada hosts this dataset of airborne radar observations collected during the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) from 11 January to 25 February, 2012. The dataset contains measurements from the Second Generation Airborne Precipitation Radar (APR-2), a dual-frequency, Doppler, dual-polarization system flown aboard a NASA DC-8 aircraft to study snowfall microphysics. It was produced by the GHRC DAAC to validate and improve satellite-based snowfall retrieval algorithms for the Global Precipitation Measurement mission.

Use Cases

• Validating satellite-based precipitation estimates from the GPM Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar using matched 13.4 GHz and 35.6 GHz airborne radar reflectivity.
• Analyzing snow particle microphysics and type using dual-polarization radar signals (like- and cross-polarized).
• Studying the vertical structure and dynamics of winter storms using Doppler velocity measurements.
• Investigating the spatial variability of precipitation across a swath +/- 25 degrees from the aircraft flight path.
• Calibrating ground-based radar systems and improving numerical weather prediction models with detailed in-situ airborne observations.

Strengths

• Provides simultaneous, co-located observations at two key frequencies (13.4 GHz and 35.6 GHz) matching the GPM satellite radar, enabling direct validation.
• Data collection was focused over a 46-day period during the core winter season, capturing diverse cold-season precipitation events.
• Includes multiple measurement dimensions: reflectivity, Doppler velocity, and dual-polarization signals, offering a multi-faceted view of precipitation.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, file sizes, and a complete list of data columns are not provided by any source, limiting precise assessment of dataset scale and structure.
• Conflicting license information exists: one source specifies 'other-license-specified' while another lists 'None', requiring user verification.
• Data is from a single field campaign in 2012, limiting temporal and geographic generalizability.

Provenance

Source

GHRC DAAC (Global Hydrology Resource Center Distributed Active Archive Center).

Collection Method

Collected by the APR-2 instrument, a downward-looking airborne radar performing cross-track scans from a NASA DC-8 aircraft.

Time Range

2012-01-11 to 2012-02-25

Freshness

2026-03-13 02:06:16.795380

Geography

Ontario, Canada, along flight paths of the NASA DC-8 aircraft.