NEXRAD Radar Mosaic for Winter Snowstorm Research

Eleven NEXRAD radar sites in the midwestern U.S. provided Level II data for this 3D mosaic dataset, created during the IMPACTS field campaign. The netCDF-4 files contain dual-polarization base data quantities like radar reflectivity and differential phase from January to February 2020. NASA's GHRC DAAC manages this dataset, which is part of a multi-year study of Atlantic Coast snowstorms.

Use Cases

• Analyzing snowband organization and evolution using 3D radar reflectivity and radial velocity fields.
• Studying snow particle microphysics and growth mechanisms via dual-polarization variables like differential reflectivity and cross correlation ratio.
• Validating and improving snowfall estimation algorithms for weather models.
• Investigating the spatial structure of winter storms over the U.S. Atlantic Coast using data from 11 coordinated radar sites.

Strengths

• Data originates from 11 coordinated NEXRAD sites, providing broad spatial coverage of the midwestern U.S.
• Includes dual-polarization radar variables, which are critical for detailed precipitation microphysics analysis.
• Part of the structured, three-year IMPACTS field campaign (2020-2023) designed for snowstorm research.

Limitations

• The initial data release covers only a two-month period (Jan-Feb 2020), with updates for subsequent campaign years noted but not confirmed.
• Sources conflict on the last update date, with one listing 2020-02-29 and another listing 2026-03-12, creating uncertainty about current status.
• Specific file size, row counts, and a complete column list are not provided by any source.

Provenance

Source

GHRC_DAAC (NASA)

Collection Method

Level II surveillance data from 11 NEXRAD sites processed into 3D mosaic files.

Time Range

January 1, 2020 to February 29, 2020

Freshness

2026-03-12 23:19:37.801304

Geography

Midwestern United States, focused on the U.S. Atlantic Coast region for the IMPACTS campaign.