NPOL S-Band Radar Data with Hydrometeor Classification from MC3E

NASA's NPOL S-band Doppler radar collected nearly continuous data from April 11 to June 3, 2011, during the Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment. The dataset provides high-resolution vertical structure sampling via Range Height Indicator scans every 40 seconds. Additional processing with the Colorado State University Hydrometeor Identification Algorithm classifies precipitation types like rain, hail, and graupel.

Use Cases

• Validating space-based precipitation retrieval algorithms over land using ground-based radar reflectivity and Doppler velocity measurements.
• Analyzing the vertical structure of convective storms via high-resolution Range Height Indicator scans.
• Classifying hydrometeor types (e.g., rain, drizzle, hail, graupel) for microphysical studies using the CSU HID algorithm output.
• Providing constraints for improving cumulus parameterization in weather and climate models.

Strengths

• Data collection was nearly continuous over a 54-day field campaign, providing a detailed temporal record.
• Includes hydrometeor classification for seven types (rain, drizzle, hail, ice crystals, wet/dry snow, graupel) using a documented algorithm.
• Scans were performed in high-resolution RHI mode every 40 seconds, emphasizing vertical structure sampling.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, file sizes, and detailed column names are not provided by any source.
• The license is ambiguously listed as 'other-license-specified' on Data.gov but 'None' on NASA Earthdata, creating a conflict.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Wallops Flight Facility

Collection Method

Collected by the transportable NASA NPOL S-band dual-polarimetric Doppler radar and processed with the CSU Hydrometeor Identification Algorithm.

Time Range

2011-04-11 to 2011-06-03

Freshness

2026-03-13 02:01:08.647340

Geography

Midlatitude continental region (specifics not provided, implied by MC3E experiment name).