The GPM Ground Validation Environment Canada (EC) Precipitation Occurrence Sensor System (POSS) GCPEx dataset is comprised of data gathered during the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx), which took place in Ontario, Canada, January 15 - March 1, 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 POSS is a bi-static X-band Doppler radar designed by Environment Canada. The POSS measures a signal whose frequency is proportional to the particle Doppler velocity and whose amplitude is proportional to the particle scattering cross-section. Its measurements can be used to provide information regarding precipitation occurrence, type, rate, and raindrop size distribution.

The GPM Ground Validation Pluvio Precipitation Gauge GCPEx dataset contains both one minute measurements and a cumulative record of the accumulation and intensity for liquid, solid, and mixed precipitation collected during the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx). GCPEx addressed shortcomings in the GPM snowfall retrieval algorithm by collecting microphysical properties, associated remote sensing observations, and coordinated model simulations of precipitating snow. GCPEx took place in Ontario, Canada uring the winter season of December 2011 through February 2012 where data was collected at five sites: CARE, Huronia, Steamshow, Skydive and Morton.

The GPM Ground Validation Environment Canada (EC) Visibility Sensor FD12P and Present Weather Detector GCPEx dataset contains data collected from January 15 through March 1, 2012 in Huronia, Canada for the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx). 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 FD12P combines the functions of a forward scatter visibility meter and a present weather detector. It also measures the intensity and the amount of both liquid and solid precipitation.

The GPM Ground Validation Environment Canada (EC) Radiometer GCPEx dataset contains retrievals of temperature, water vapor, relative humidity, liquid water profiles and surface parameters acquired by a passive microwave radiometer during the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) in Ontario, Canada, February 14, 2012 through March 1, 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 GPM Ground Validation Precipitation Occurrence Sensor System (POSS) LPVEx dataset consists of precipitation and radar parameter estimates for both liquid and solid precipitation. Measurements were collected by the Precipitation Occurrence Sensor System (POSS) during the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission Light Precipitation Validation Experiment (LPVEx) field campaign. This field campaign took place around the Gulf of Finland in September and October of 2010. The goal of the campaign was to provide additional high-latitude, light rainfall measurements for the improvement of GPM satellite precipitation algorithms. The POSS dataset files are available from September 18, 2010 through April 20, 2011 for two POSS sites: Emasalo and Jarvenpaa. The data files are in CSV format with browse imagery in PNG format.

The GPM Ground Validation Pluvio Precipitation Gauges OLYMPEX dataset contains one-minute precipitation rate and precipitation accumulation measurements, as well as start and end times of precipitation events, that were collected during the Olympic Mountain Experiment (OLYMPEX) field campaign on the Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. A Pluvio 400 weighing bucket gauge created by OTT Hydromet in Kempten, Germany was used to collect data at three different sites: Neilton Point (apu04), Wynoochee Trailer (apu10), and Upper Quinault Enchanted Valley (apu30). Data were collected from October 31, 2015 through January 31, 2016, but exact dates vary by site. Data files are available in ASCII-tsv format.

The GPM Ground Validation Autonomous Parsivel Unit (APU) GCPEx dataset was collected by the Autonomous Parsivel Unit (APU), which is an optical disdrometer that measures the size and fall velocity of single precipitation particles. The APU consists of the Parsivel (the precipitation measuring instrument), developed by OTT in Germany, and its support systems, which were designed and built by the University of Alabama in Huntsville. The GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) addressed shortcomings in the GPM snowfall retrieval algorithm by collecting microphysical properties, associated remote sensing observations, and coordinated model simulations of precipitating snow. These data sets were 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 APU dataset for GCPEx provides precipitation data including raindrop size, raindrop counts, precipitation drop size, precipitation rate, precipitation amount, and snowflake size, counts and distribution. The GCPEx APU data was collected from several sites in Canada during the Winter 2011-2012 period.

The GPM Ground Validation Meteorological Tower Environment Canada GCPEx dataset provides temperature, relative humidity, 10 m winds, pressure and solar radiation data collected by a suite of standard meteorological instruments attached to a 10 m met tower. The GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) addressed shortcomings in the GPM snowfall retrieval algorithm by collecting microphysical properties, associated remote sensing observations, and coordinated model simulations of precipitating snow. Data was gathered over the Ontario region of Canada in 2012 from January 15th through March 1st. Browse images are available online. The observation station was assembled by Automated Transportable Meteorological Observation Station (ATMOS).

The GPM Ground Validation Pluvio Precipitation Gauge LPVEx dataset contains both one minute measurements and a cumulative record of the accumulation and intensity of liquid, solid, and mixed precipitation. This dataset was collected during the Light Precipitation Experiment (LPVEx) which was part of the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Misson Ground Validation Experiment which took place in Finland from September 2010 to October 2010. The experiment leveraged in situ microphysical property measurements, coordinated remote sensing observations, and cloud resolving model simulations of high latitude precipitation systems to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of precipitation algorithms for current and future satellite platforms. The campaign will use these measurements to better understand the process of light rainfall formation at high latitudes and augment the currently limited database of light rainfall microphysical properties that form the critical assumptions at the root of satellite retrieval algorithm. Data were collected at three sites: Harmaja, Emasalo, and Jarvenpaa.

The GPM Ground Validation Environment Canada (EC) Micro Rain Radar (MRR) GCPEx V2 dataset was collected from the Micro Rain Radar (MRR) during the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) in Ontario, Canada during the winter season 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. Operating at 24 GHz the MRR, a vertically pointing Doppler radar, retrieved quantitative rain rates, drop size distributions, radar reflectivity, and fall velocities on vertical profiles up to several kilometers above the unit. The MRR used during GCPEX is the second generation of the instrument manufactured by METEK (URL: http://metek.de/product/mrr-2/). Version 2 of this dataset became active on April 30, 2015.