NASA NPOL S-Band Radar Data for GPM Ground Validation
Updated 1mo ago
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Description
NASA's GPM Ground Validation NPOL Doppler Radar dataset provides S-band dual-polarimetric measurements from a transportable research radar stationed at Wallops Flight Facility near Newark, Maryland. The collection includes rain rate, reflectivity, Doppler velocity, differential reflectivity, specific differential phase, and co-polar correlation data. Files are available in Universal Format (UF) and PNG browse images from December 6, 2013 through April 28, 2017.
Use Cases
Validating GPM satellite precipitation retrievals using ground-based rain rate and reflectivity measurements.
Analyzing storm structure and hydrometeor types with dual-polarimetric variables like differential reflectivity and specific differential phase.
Studying wind fields and particle motion within precipitation systems using Doppler velocity data.
Creating calibrated radar imagery for meteorological case studies from the PNG browse files of corrected reflectivity and velocity.
Strengths
Provides over three years of continuous, high-quality ground validation data for the critical Global Precipitation Mission (GPM).
Includes multiple derived radar products essential for precipitation science: reflectivity, Doppler velocity, differential reflectivity, and co-polar correlation.
Data is packaged in daily collections for efficient download and analysis.
Limitations
Specific row counts, file sizes, and a complete column schema are not provided by any source, limiting precise data volume assessment.
The license is ambiguously listed as 'other-license-specified' without explicit terms.
Sources conflict on the last update date, with one listing 2026 (likely a metadata error) and another listing 2017 (the actual data end date).
Provenance
Source
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Wallops Flight Facility.
Collection Method
Measurements gathered by the NASA NPOL, a fully transportable S-band scanning dual-polarimetric Doppler research radar.
Time Range
2013-12-06 to 2017-04-28
Freshness
Data collection ended on 2017-04 28; metadata was last updated on 2026-03-13 according to one source, though this may be an administrative error.
Geography
Radar positioned at Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) near Newark, Maryland, USA.
Data is provided in specialized Universal Format (UF) and requires compatible software for analysis. The license requires checking the 'other-license-specified' terms. The 2026 update date is inconsistent with the data time range and may reflect a metadata system update rather than new data.