The GPM Ground Validation UND Citation Navigation Data GCPEx V2 dataset was collected by the Cessna Citation II Research, which was aircraft, owned, and operated by the University of North Dakota (UND), participated in the GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) by serving as an in situ microphysics sampling platform. 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 Data User Guide of the overarching goal of GCPEx, which is to characterize the ability of multi-frequency active and passive microwave sensors to detect and estimate falling snow. The GCPEx navigation data set collected wind speed amongst several other parameters. It would also be beneficial to list the other parameters it collected.

The GPM Ground Validation UND Citation Navigation Data IPHEx dataset supplies navigation data collected by the Cessna Citation II aircraft for flights that occurred during March 6, 2014 through June 13, 2014 for the Global Precipitation Measurement Ground Validation Integrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment (IPHEx) field campaign in North Carolina. The goal of IPHEx was to evaluate the accuracy of satellite precipitation measurements and use the collected data for hydrology models in the region. The Cessna Citation II Research aircraft, owned and operated by the University of North Dakota (UND), participated in the IPHEx field campaign by serving as an in situ microphysics sampling platform. This navigation dataset consists of final processed files containing records that include flight time, aircraft location (latitude, longitude, and altitude), air temperature, wind speed, and other relevant aircraft parameters in ASCII format.

The GPM Ground Validation UND Citation Navigation Data OLYMPEX dataset supplies navigation data collected by the Cessna Citation II aircraft for flights that occurred during November 12, 2015 through December 19, 2015 for the Olympic Mountains Experiment (OLYMPEX) GPM Ground Validation field campaign. This navigation dataset consists of multiple altitude, pressure, temperature, airspeed, and ground speed measurements in ASCII format.

The GPM Ground Validation NASA ER-2 Navigation Data MC3E dataset contains information recorded by an on board navigation recorder (NavRec). In addition to typical navigation data (e.g. date, time, lat/lon and altitude) it contains outside meteorological parameters such as wind speed, wind direction, and temperature. These ASCII text files were recorded every second for the length of the flight. The Flight Summaries and Flight Track Imagery dataset which includes sonde maps, radar animation, and 5-minute KICT track snapshots is distributed with this dataset.

The GPM Ground Validation DC-8 Navigation and Housekeeping Data GCPEx dataset, which is composed of two types of files. GCPEx addressed shortcomings in the GPM snowfall retrieval algorithm by collecting microphysical properties, associated remote sensing observations, and coordinated model simulations of precipitating snow. National Suborbital Education and Research Center (NSERC) of the University of North Dakota (UND) provided geo-located housekeeping data containing attributes, such as altitude, pressure, air speed, and wind speed. The NASA DC-8 Navigation data in comma delimited IWG1 format were collected and utilized in-flight during the GCPEx mission and retrieved from the Real-Time Mission Monitor. Both file types are available for most of the dataset dates, however please note that there are a few dates where only the IWG1 formatted data is available.

The GPM Ground Validation NASA ER-2 Navigation Data IPHEx dataset was gathered during the GPM Ground Validation Integrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment (IPHEx) in North Carolina. The ER-2 Aircraft flew during the IPHEx field campaign to aid in GPM validation. The science instruments onboard the aircraft acted as a proxy for GPM satellite instruments. Twenty-one ER-2 flights occurred during May 1, 2014 through June 14, 2014. The dataset consists of navigation data, as well as meteorological parameters collected by an on-board navigation recorder every second of the flight. The data are available in ASCII and XML formats.

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 Campaign Reports MC3E dataset consists of various reports filed by the scientists during the Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E) campaign. 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. Several of the reports are from the planning, test flights, and preparation. Included in this dataset are Mission Scientist, Mission Manager, Instrument Scientists, and Weather Forecasts. Many reports have additional information included as attachments.

The GPM Ground Validation NOAA Parsivel MC3E dataset was collected in central Oklahoma during the Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E) from April 5, 2011 through June 6, 2011. The NOAA Parsivel dataset includes processed data consisting of either moment data (e.g., reflectivity and rain rate estimates) or raindrop number concentration estimates; the data provided a reference reflectivity to calibrate the S-band profiler during the experiment. The moment data includes 1-minute resolution estimates of rain rate, reflectivity, and other parameters related to the health of the Parsivel instrument. The raindrop number concentration data are also at 1-minute resolution and are the result of converting the observed raindrop passing the sensor into the number of raindrops expected in a unit volume per diameter interval. Both the moment data and the number concentration data were saved in daily files in ASCII format. Daily images were also generated from the Parsivel observations and contain the 1-minute reflectivity, rain rate, and number concentration N(D); browse images are saved in TIF format.