GPM IPHEx Ceilometer Cloud and Aerosol Profiles

May 6 to June 16, 2014 data contains vertical profiles of attenuated backscatter, cloud base height, and boundary layer height from a Vaisala CL51 ceilometer. This dataset was collected during the GPM Ground Validation Integrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment (IPHEx) in North Carolina to validate satellite precipitation measurements. It is managed by the NASA GHRC DAAC and originates from the ACHIEVE mobile laboratory.

Use Cases

• Validating satellite-derived precipitation estimates by comparing with ground-based cloud base and boundary layer height measurements.
• Analyzing vertical aerosol backscatter profiles to study atmospheric particle distribution and its impact on cloud formation.
• Improving hydrology models for the North Carolina region by incorporating detailed atmospheric boundary layer structure data.
• Studying diurnal and seasonal variations in cloud properties and boundary layer depth during an intensive observation period.

Strengths

• Data provides continuous, high-resolution vertical profiles from a calibrated instrument (Vaisala CL51 ceilometer).
• Coverage spans a focused 42-day intensive field campaign (IPHEx) designed for rigorous satellite validation.
• Dataset is hosted on multiple authoritative platforms (NASA Earthdata and Data.gov), indicating recognized importance.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, file sizes, and a complete column list are not provided by any source.
• Sources conflict on the dataset's last updated date (2014-06-16 vs. 2026-03 13).
• License is ambiguously listed as 'other-license-specified' without explicit terms.

Provenance

Source

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center ACHIEVE ground-based mobile laboratory.

Collection Method

Measurements gathered by a Vaisala Ceilometer CL51 instrument during the GPM Ground Validation IPHEx field campaign.

Time Range

May 6, 2014 to June 16, 2014

Freshness

2026 -03-13 02:18:45.365638

Geography

North Carolina, United States