GCPEx Snowflake Microphysics Data from Six Ontario Sites

Two-Dimensional Video Disdrometer data captures properties of individual snowflakes and hydrometeors. The dataset was collected during the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment at six sites in Ontario, Canada, from October 2011 to February 2012. It was produced by the Global Hydrology Resource Center Distributed Active Archive Center to improve satellite snowfall retrieval algorithms.

Use Cases

• Validating satellite-based snowfall retrieval algorithms for the Global Precipitation Measurement mission.
• Analyzing microphysical properties of individual snowflakes and hydrometeors.
• Studying the spatial and temporal variability of cold-season precipitation.
• Comparing ground-based disdrometer observations with coordinated remote sensing data and model simulations.

Strengths

• Data collection targeted a specific research gap in cold-season precipitation algorithms.
• Observations span six distinct sites, allowing for spatial analysis.
• Covers a multi-month winter campaign from October 2011 to February 2012.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, file sizes, and detailed column names are unavailable from all sources.
• Sources conflict on the most recent update date (2012 vs. 2026).

Provenance

Source

Global Hydrology Resource Center Distributed Active Archive Center (GHRC DAAC).

Collection Method

Collected by Two-Dimensional Video Disdrometer instruments during the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment field campaign.

Time Range

27 October 2011 to 27 February 2012.

Freshness

2026-03-13 01:59:19.163910

Geography

Six sites in Ontario, Canada.