GPM CAX1 Radar: OLYMPEX Campaign Weather Data

GPM Ground Validation CAX1 Radar RB5 format OLYMPEX dataset consists of radar parameters from the OLYMPEX field campaign. Data were collected by a SELEX Meteor 60DX10 Compact Weather radar operated by Environment and Climate Change Canada from a site on Vancouver Island. The dataset includes radar reflectivity, Doppler velocity, Doppler width, differential reflectivity, and signal quality index at a 0.4 to 1.0 km spatial resolution over Washington state.

Use Cases

• Validating satellite precipitation retrievals based on ground-based radar reflectivity measurements.
• Analyzing storm structure and microphysics using dual-polarization parameters like differential reflectivity.
• Studying orographic precipitation enhancement in mountainous regions based on data from the Washington study area.
• Calibrating and evaluating numerical weather prediction models with high-resolution Doppler velocity observations.

Strengths

• Provides high-resolution (0.4-1.0 km) radar data for a specific, well-documented field campaign (OLYMPEX).
• Includes multiple key radar parameters (reflectivity, Doppler velocity, differential reflectivity) essential for precipitation analysis.
• Covers a continuous time range from November 13, 2015, to April 20, 2016, capturing a full winter season.

Limitations

• Specific column names and dataset size (row count, file size) are not provided by any source, limiting precise technical assessment.
• The license is ambiguously listed as 'other-license-specified' on Data.gov but 'None' on NASA Earthdata, indicating potential access restrictions.
• Metadata completeness is low, with no author or detailed column schema provided.

Provenance

Source

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), collected for NASA's GPM Ground Validation program.

Collection Method

Data obtained by the SELEX Meteor 60DX10 Compact Weather (CAX1) radar located at CFB Esquimalt Albert Head, Vancouver Island.

Time Range

November 13, 2015 to April 20, 2016

Freshness

2026-04-10 02:40:26.298030

Geography

OLYMPEX field campaign study region in Washington state, USA, as observed from Vancouver Island, Canada.