The GPM Ground Validation NOAA UHF 449 Profiler MC3E dataset was collected during the NASA supported Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E). The overarching goal was to provide the most complete characterization of convective cloud systems, precipitation, and the environment that has ever been obtained, providing constraints for model cumulus parameterizations and space-based rainfall retrieval algorithms over land that had never before been available. The Ultra High Frequency 449 MHz profiler was one of three NOAA deployed instruments which also included a Parsivel and a 2.8 GHz profiler (S-Band). The 449 MHz profiler raw data files provide estimates of the vertical air motion during precipitation from near the surface to just below the freezing level. Used together with the S-band profiler, vertical profiles of raindrop size distributions can be retrieved. The raw 449MGx profiler data consists of uncalibrated Doppler velocity spectra data in units of relative power return.

The GPM Ground Validation CHILL Radar MC3E dataset was collected during the Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E), which was held in Oklahoma were collected while the NASA ER-2 aircraft conducted a series of four legs along the 090 and 120 degree CHILL azimuths on May 24, 2011. Dual linear polarization variables as well as Doppler velocity, radial velocity, and normalized coherent power are contained in this dataset. In an effort to expand the MC3E sampling to a wider geographical area, the NASA ER-2 aircraft was directed to Northeastern Colorado while widespread rain was in progress on May 24, 2011. The aircraft flew a series of pre-defined ground tracks that coincided with radials from the CSU-CHILL radar. This aided in keeping the aircraft in the plane of a series of RHI scans done by CSU-CHILL. The single polarization CSU-Pawnee radar maintained volume coverage of the echo system while the radial flight legs were in progress. During aircraft course reversals at the ends of the radial legs, the CHILL and Pawnee radars started volume scans in synchronization to support dual Doppler wind syntheses. The Pawnee radar data are available as a seperate dataset.

The GPM Ground Validation Pawnee Radar MC3E dataset was collected by the Pawnee radar data for the Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E) held in Oklahoma were collected on May 24, 2011 to support the CHILL radar and the NASA ER-2 instrumentation data. The Pawnee is a single polarization (V polarization) Doppler radar. During the ER2 flight, the Pawnee conducted a wide azimuth opening PPI sector volume scan oriented towards the east designed to provide general 3D coverage of the ER2 flight area. When the ER2 reported starting a course reversal, the CHILL and Pawnee radars attempted to start sector scans at the same time to support dual Doppler wind analyses. In an effort to expand the MC3E sampling to a wider geographical area, the NASA ER2 aircraft was directed to Northeastern Colorado while widespread rain was in progress on May 24, 2011. The aircraft flew a series of pre-defined ground tracks that coincided with radials from the CHILL radar. This aided in keeping the aircraft in the plane of a series of RHI scans done by CHILL. The single polarization Pawnee radar maintained volume coverage of the echo system while the radial flight legs were in progress. During aircraft course reversals at the ends of the radial legs, the CHILL and Pawnee radars started volume scans in synchronization to support dual Doppler wind syntheses. CHILL and Pawnee radar data are available as separate datasets.

The GPM Ground Validation NASA S-Band Dual-Polarimetric (NPOL) Doppler Radar Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) dataset consists of rain rate, reflectivity, Doppler velocity, and other radar measurements obtained from the NPOL doppler radar positioned at the Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) in support of the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM). NPOL was developed by scientists at WFF and is a fully transportable and self-contained S-band (10 cm), scanning dual-polarimetric Doppler research radar that was placed near Newark, Maryland between GPM GV missions. Data files are available from December 6, 2013 thru April 28, 2017 in Universal Format (UF), with browse files in PNG format containing images of corrected radar reflectivity, differential reflectivity, specific differential phase, co-polar correlation, and Doppler velocity images. Data are tarred into daily collections of files and zipped for storage and quick download.

The GPM Ground Validation McGill Vertical Pointing X-Band (VertiX) Radar GCPEx dataset consists of radar reflectivity and Doppler velocity data collected by the Vertically Pointing X-band (VertiX) radar during the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) field campaign in Ontario, Canada during the 2011-2012 winter season. VertiX can detect all precipitation targets and some ice clouds, as well as measure the Doppler velocity of precipitation targets. These measurements contributed to the overarching goal of GCPEx to collect various snowfall data for the improvement of GPM satellite winter precipitation estimates. These data files are available from January 15 through February 29, 2012 in netCDF-3 format with browse imagery available in GIF format.

The GPM Ground Validation Airborne Second Generation Precipitation Radar (APR-2) GCPEx dataset was collected during the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx), which occurred in Ontario, Canada during the winter season of 2011-2012. GCPEx addressed shortcomings in the GPM snowfall retrieval algorithm by collecting microphysical properties, associated remote sensing observations, and coordinated model simulations of precipitating snow. The Second Generation Airborne Precipitation Radar (APR-2) is a dual-frequency (13 GHz and 35 GHz), Doppler, dual-polarization radar system. It has a downward looking antenna that performs cross track scans, covering a swath that is +/- 25 degrees to each side of the aircraft path. Additional features include: simultaneous dual-frequency, matched beam operation at 13.4 and 35.6 GHz (same as GPM Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar), simultaneous measurement of both like- and cross-polarized signals at both frequencies, Doppler operation, and real-time pulse compression (calibrated reflectivity data can be produced for large areas in the field during flight, if necessary). The APR-2 flew aboard the NASA DC-8 for the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) from 11 January to 25 February, 2012.

The GPM Ground Validation Environment Canada (EC) Wind Profiler GCPEx dataset provides post-processed consensus winds and daily quick look plots from the Vaisala Wind Profiler LAP 3000. The daily plots depict wind information, such as wind speed and wind direction, from the profiler and from the Global Environmental Multiscale (GEM) model data. The LAP 3000 is a pulsed Doppler radar that operates in clean air. The Wind profiler data was collected January 15, 2012 through March 1, 2012 for the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) at the CARE site in Ontario, Canada. This dataset was collected to aid in the achievement of the over arching goal of GCPEx which is to characterize the ability of multi-frequency active and passive microwave sensors to detect and estimate falling snow.

The GPM Ground Validation NASA Micro Rain Radar (MRR) HyMeX is a vertically pointing Doppler radar that obtained measurements of vertical velocity, drop size distribution, rainfall rate, attenuation, liquid water content, and reflectivity factor during the HYdrological cycle in Mediterranean EXperiment (HyMeX) campaign. The HYdrological cycle in Mediterranean EXperiment (HyMeX) aimed to improve the understanding, quantification and modelling of the hydrological cycle in the Mediterranean, with emphasis on the predictability and evolution of extreme weather events, inter-annual to decadal variability of the Mediterranean coupled system, and associated trends in the context of global change. Furthermore, this campaign aimed to improve observational and modelling systems, better predict extreme events, simulate the long-term water-cycle, and provide guidelines for adaptation measures. Special Observation Period 1 (SOP1), which was from September 5 to November 6, 2012, was dedicated to heavy precipitation and flash-flooding. More information about HyMeX is available at http://www.hymex.org/.

The GPM Ground Validation Dual-frequency Dual-polarized Doppler Radar (D3R) GCPEx and IFloodS data sets contain radar reflectivity and doppler velocity measurements. The D3R was developed by a government-industry-academic consortium with funding from NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Project. It operates at the ku (13.91 GHz ± 25 MHz) and ku (35.56 GHz ± 25 MHz) frequencies covering a fixed range from 450 m to 39.75 km. The GPM Ground Validation Dual-frequency Dual-polarized Doppler Radar (D3R) GCPEx dataset is available in netCDF format. Browse images are also available in .png format.