GPM Ground Validation Duke Parsivel IPHEx: Laser Disdrometer Precipitation Data

GPM Ground Validation Duke Parsivel IPHEx data were collected during the Integrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment (IPHEx) field campaign in the Southern Appalachian region of North Carolina. OTT laser-based Parsivel instruments operated from May 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014 to characterize warm season orographic precipitation regimes. The dataset contains precipitation intensity and drop size distribution parameters in ASCII-csv format for multiple instrument locations.

Use Cases

• Validating satellite-based precipitation estimates from the GPM mission using ground-based laser disdrometer measurements.
• Analyzing warm season orographic precipitation regimes and drop size distributions in the Southern Appalachians.
• Studying the relationship between precipitation characteristics and hydrologic processes in regions of complex terrain.
• Calibrating and evaluating hydrological models with high-resolution precipitation intensity and drop parameter data.

Strengths

• Data originates from a focused NASA GPM ground validation field campaign (IPHEx) with a clear scientific objective.
• Provides a two-month continuous time series (May-June 2014) of laser disdrometer measurements during the warm season.
• Contains specific precipitation microphysical parameters (intensity and drop parameters) from multiple instrument locations.

Limitations

• Key metadata such as row count, file size, and specific column names are not provided across any source.
• There is a conflict in the 'last updated' metadata between platforms (2014 vs. 2026), suggesting potential metadata management issues.
• The dataset's temporal coverage is limited to a specific two-month campaign period in 2014.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Collected by OTT laser-based Parsivel disdrometers during the GPM Ground Validation IPHEx field campaign.

Time Range

May 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014

Freshness

Last updated metadata conflicts: one source indicates 2014-06-30, while others indicate 2026-04-10.

Geography

Southern Appalachian region, including the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions of North Carolina, USA.