GPM Ground Validation NEXRAD Level III KDVN IFloodS: Radar Precipitation Data

NEXRAD S-band radar data from four stations collected during the Iowa Flood Studies field campaign from March 29 to June 18, 2013. It contains digital instantaneous precipitation rate and storm total accumulation estimates in NIDS binary format. This dataset supports ground validation for the Global Precipitation Measurement mission.

Use Cases

• Validating satellite-derived precipitation estimates from GPM based on ground-based radar data.
• Analyzing storm evolution and intensity using time-series radar reflectivity and precipitation rate.
• Calculating total rainfall accumulation for flood forecasting and hydrological modeling.
• Comparing precipitation products from different NEXRAD stations within the IFloodS campaign area.

Strengths

• Data originates from a network of 160 stationary S-band radars, providing a standardized national observation system.
• Covers a specific, well-documented field campaign (Iowa Flood Studies) over a nearly three-month period in 2013.
• Contains two processed precipitation products: digital instantaneous rate and storm total accumulation.

Limitations

• Column names and exact data structure are not specified in the available metadata.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates (2013 vs. 2026) across platforms create uncertainty about data currency.
• Data size and row counts are unknown, limiting assessment of dataset scale.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Gathered from four NEXRAD stations during the Iowa Flood Studies field campaign.

Time Range

March 29, 2013 through June 18, 2013

Freshness

2026-04-10 02:56:34.484412 (from datagov, conflicting with the 2013 date from nasa_earthdata)

Geography

Vicinity of the Iowa Flood Studies campaign, United States