GCPEx Dual Polarization Radiometer Brightness Temperature Measurements

Ontario, Canada hosts this dataset from the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx), which collected ground validation data to improve satellite-based snowfall retrieval algorithms. The dataset contains brightness temperature measurements from a dual-polarization radiometer at 90 GHz and 150 GHz frequencies. It was produced by NASA and is available on multiple government data platforms.

Use Cases

• Validating and improving GPM satellite snowfall retrieval algorithms by comparing with ground-based radiometer observations.
• Analyzing snow particle shape and orientation using the brightness temperature difference between vertical and horizontal polarization channels at 150 GHz.
• Investigating supercooled liquid water content in clouds using high-frequency (90 GHz and 150 GHz) window channel sensitivity.
• Supporting coordinated model simulations of precipitating snow with collected microphysical properties and remote sensing data.

Strengths

• Data is from a focused field campaign (GCPEx) designed to address specific algorithm shortcomings.
• Instrument provides polarization-sensitive measurements at 150 GHz, critical for retrieving particle orientation.
• Dataset is hosted on multiple authoritative platforms (Data.gov and NASA Earthdata), indicating recognized importance.

Limitations

• Key technical details like row count, file size, and specific column names are unavailable across all sources.
• There is a significant conflict in the 'last updated' metadata, with dates ranging from 2012 to 2026 across platforms.
• Browse images are limited to specific scan angles (30 and 150 degrees), not the full dataset.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Measurements from a ground-based dual-polarization radiometer during the GCPEx field campaign.

Time Range

During the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx).

Freshness

2026-03-13 02:05:34.428293

Geography

Ontario, Canada