Airborne Cloud Microphysics Data from GCPEx Winter Campaign

January 16 to February 25, 2012 data from the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) in Ontario, Canada. This dataset contains particle size distributions and images collected by three NCAR-processed probes (2D-C, CIP, HVPS-3) aboard a University of North Dakota aircraft to improve snowfall retrieval algorithms. It is a specialized validation dataset produced by NASA for the Global Precipitation Measurement mission.

Use Cases

• Validating GPM satellite snowfall retrieval algorithms using in-situ particle microphysics.
• Analyzing winter cloud particle size distributions (PSD) from probe data.
• Studying the morphology of snow particles using collected particle images.
• Correlating airborne microphysical measurements with coordinated ground-based remote sensing observations.
• Supporting model simulations of cold-season precipitation processes.

Strengths

• Data collected during a focused, six-week NASA field campaign (GCPEx) designed to address algorithm shortcomings.
• Combines measurements from three specialized airborne probes (2D-C, CIP, HVPS-3) for multi-instrument analysis.
• Processed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), a leading institution in atmospheric data.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, file sizes, and detailed column schemas are not provided by any source.
• License information is inconsistent: 'other-license-specified' on Data.gov but 'None' listed on NASA Earthdata.
• Temporal coverage is limited to a single winter season.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Data gathered by three particle probes (2D-C, CIP, HVPS-3) aboard the University of North Dakota Cessna Citation aircraft and processed by NCAR.

Time Range

2012-01 to 2012-02

Freshness

2026-03-13 02:21:28.798270

Geography

Ontario, Canada