GCPEx Ground Validation Data for Snowfall Retrieval

GPM Ground Validation Environment Canada (EC) Passive Microwave Radiometer and Soil Moisture-Temperature Data GCPEx contains field measurements from the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment. This dataset was collected during the winter of 2011-2012 at the CARE site in Ontario, Canada, by NASA. It includes microwave brightness temperatures, soil moisture, and surface temperature data to improve satellite snowfall retrieval algorithms.

Use Cases

• Validating satellite passive microwave brightness temperature observations against ground-based radiometer measurements.
• Analyzing relationships between soil volumetric water content, soil surface temperatures, and overlying snow properties.
• Improving microphysical models of precipitating snow by integrating coordinated remote sensing and in-situ data.
• Studying snow and soil/snow-air interface (ground surface) temperatures for energy balance and hydrological process research.

Strengths

• Data is from a coordinated field campaign (GCPEx) specifically designed to address known algorithm shortcomings.
• Includes multi-instrument measurements: passive microwave radiometer, water content reflectometer, thermistors, and soil moisture probe.
• Provides temporally focused data from a full winter season (2011-2012) at a dedicated research site.

Limitations

• Key quantitative details like row count and dataset size are unavailable across all sources.
• Sources conflict on the last updated date, listing either 2012-03-03 or a future date of 2026-03-13.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Field measurements acquired by multiple instruments during the GCPEx campaign at the Centre for Atmospheric Research Experiments (CARE).

Time Range

Winter season 2011-2012

Freshness

2012-03-03 10:30:00

Geography

Centre for Atmospheric Research Experiments (CARE) site, Ontario, Canada