NOAA S-Band Profiler Raw Doppler Spectra from MC3E Campaign

Uncalibrated Doppler velocity spectra data were collected by a vertically-pointing S-band profiler during the Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E). The dataset captures backscattered power from raindrops and ice particles to characterize convective cloud systems and precipitation over land. It was gathered in Oklahoma from April 8 to June 7, 2011, by the Global Hydrology Resource Center Distributed Active Archive Center (GHRC_DAAC).

Use Cases

• Analyzing vertical profiles of uncalibrated Doppler velocity spectra to study precipitation microphysics.
• Validating space-based rainfall estimates from the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission using ground-based spectral data.
• Investigating the structure and dynamics of convective cloud systems as they pass over the profiler site.
• Providing constraints for model parameterizations using high-resolution, vertically-separated range gate measurements.

Strengths

• Data provides high-resolution vertical profiles with range gates separated by 60 meters.
• Covers a focused two-month field campaign (MC3E) designed for detailed convective system characterization.
• Spectral data is saved in two distinct operational modes (precipitation and attenuated) for each hour, allowing for mode-specific analysis.

Limitations

• Data is uncalibrated; users must obtain separate datasets for calibrated measurements.
• Key metadata such as row count, file size, and a complete column list are unavailable across all sources.
• Sources conflict on the last updated date, listing either 2011-06-07 or 2026-03-13.

Provenance

Source

Global Hydrology Resource Center Distributed Active Archive Center (GHRC_DAAC)

Collection Method

Gathered by a vertically-pointing 2.8 GHz S-band profiler processing radar pulses during 7-second dwells.

Time Range

2011-04-08 to 2011-06-07

Freshness

2026-03-13 02:00:54.409831

Geography

Oklahoma, USA