Olympic Mountains Weather Radar Data For Precipitation Validation

This dataset provides browse images of NEXRAD base reflectivity observations collected during the Olympic Mountains Experiment (OLYMPEX) campaign. It contains data from three S-band radar stations, spanning from November 3, 2015, to May 1, 2016, to support ground validation for NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. The data is provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Use Cases

• Validating GPM satellite precipitation retrievals by comparing radar-derived reflectivity with satellite observations.
• Analyzing storm structure and precipitation patterns over the complex terrain of the Olympic Mountains using base reflectivity images.
• Studying the size distribution of water particles in the atmosphere by interpreting radar reflectivity values.
• Supporting field campaign analysis for OLYMPEX by providing a continuous record of ground-based radar observations.

Strengths

• Data originates from a network of 160 professionally maintained, stationary S-band NEXRAD radars.
• Provides a focused temporal record of nearly six months (Nov 2015 to May 2016) for a specific validation campaign.
• Cross-platform presence on Data.gov and NASA Earthdata indicates recognized importance and curation.

Limitations

• The dataset consists of browse images (PNG format), not the underlying quantitative radar data files, limiting analytical depth.
• Specific column names, row counts, and dataset size are not provided by any source.
• License information is inconsistently reported ('other-license-specified' vs. 'None').

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Data gathered from three selected NEXRAD (Next Generation Weather Radar) stations during the OLYMPEX field campaign.

Time Range

2015-11-03 to 2016-05-01

Freshness

2026-03-13 02:23:23.474825

Geography

Olympic Mountains region, from three specific NEXRAD station locations (stations not named in provided descriptions).