GPROF 2014 IFloodS: Satellite Precipitation for Iowa Flood Studies

NASA's GPM Ground Validation Goddard Profiling Algorithm (GPROF) 2014 IFloodS dataset provides precipitation data derived from microwave radiometers on multiple satellites. The data were consistently processed for the Iowa Flood Studies (IFloodS) field campaign in eastern Iowa during spring 2013, aiming to validate satellite measurements with ground instruments and weather radars. Files are available from March 31 to July 2, 2013 in HDF-5 format.

Use Cases

• Validating satellite-based precipitation retrieval algorithms against ground-based radar and instrument data from the IFloodS campaign.
• Analyzing spatial and temporal patterns of precipitation in eastern Iowa during the spring 2013 flood season.
• Improving flood forecasting models by integrating multi-satellite microwave precipitation estimates.
• Assessing the consistency of precipitation data across different satellite platforms (DMSP, GCOM-W1, MetOp, POES).

Strengths

• Data is derived from multiple satellite platforms (DMSP F16-18, GCOM-W1, MetOp, POES), providing broad observational coverage.
• Specifically processed for a coordinated field campaign (IFloodS), ensuring relevance for ground validation studies.
• Covers a defined and significant event period from March 31 to July 2, 2013, corresponding to the Iowa flood season.

Limitations

• Column names and specific data structure are unknown, limiting precise understanding of the contained variables.
• Conflicting 'last updated' metadata between platforms (2013 vs. 2026) creates uncertainty about data currency and maintenance.
• License information is vague ('other-license-specified') and author information is missing, complicating reuse clarity.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Data derived from microwave radiometers and sounders on multiple satellites and processed using the Goddard Profiling Algorithm (GPROF) 2014.

Time Range

March 31, 2013 to July 2, 2013

Freshness

2026-04-10 02:38:53.713702 (from datagov, though this conflicts with the 2013 date from nasa_earthdata)

Geography

Eastern Iowa, United States (focus of the IFloodS field campaign)