GPM Ground Validation KATX NEXRAD OLYMPEX: Weather Radar Reflectivity Images

From 22 September 2015 through 01 May 2016, this dataset contains browse images of base reflectivity observations from three NEXRAD radar stations during the Olympic Mountains Experiment (OLYMPEX) field campaign. The PNG format images illustrate the amount and size distribution of water particles in the atmosphere, supporting ground validation for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. NEXRAD is a network of 160 stationary S-Band radars dispersed throughout the United States and select locations abroad.

Use Cases

• Validating satellite-based precipitation estimates from the GPM mission based on ground radar reflectivity observations.
• Analyzing the spatial and temporal structure of precipitation events during the OLYMPEX campaign using radar imagery.
• Studying the size distribution of water droplets in precipitation systems based on base reflectivity measurements.
• Calibrating or comparing hydrological models with observed radar data from a specific field experiment.

Strengths

• Provides data from a specific, well-documented field campaign (OLYMPEX) with a defined time range from September 2015 to May 2016.
• Leverages the established NEXRAD network of 160 S-Band radars, a trusted source for operational weather data.
• Dataset is hosted on multiple authoritative platforms (Data.gov and NASA Earthdata), indicating its importance and curation.

Limitations

• Critical metadata is missing or conflicting: column names are unknown, row/size counts are unspecified, and the license is ambiguously listed as 'other-license-specified' or null.
• The dataset appears to consist solely of browse images (PNG), which may limit quantitative analysis compared to raw radar data formats.
• The most recent update date is inconsistent, with one source showing a future date (2026-04-10), suggesting potential metadata errors.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Data gathered from three selected NEXRAD (Next Generation Weather Radar) stations as part of the GPM Ground Validation OLYMPEX campaign.

Time Range

22 September 2015 to 01 May 2016

Freshness

Last updated dates conflict: 2026-04-10 (Data.gov) and 2016-05-01 (NASA Earthdata). The 2016 date aligns with the dataset's time range.

Geography

Data from three NEXRAD stations, likely focused on the Olympic Mountains region (Pacific Northwest, USA), as part of the OLYMPEX campaign.