PRECIPITATION MEASUREMENT MISSIONS

Looking ahead it is becoming apparent that the future of precipitation research is probably not one in which satellite data are used in isolation. Instead, integration of satellite precipitation measurements with ground observations, cloud resolving models (CRMs) and land surface data assimilation systems (LDAS) is likely to replace satellite-only precipitation products, particularly for forecasting and hydrological applications that require precipitation as input. This is already apparent in the analyzed precipitation products over the continental US and similar activities in Japan. Hence within this context, GPM validation activities should consider not only the satellite products, but the merged precipitation products based upon GPM data that embrace cloud resolving models and coupled land surface/cloud resolving models used in hydrologic applications. Such modeling components are also needed to improve the physical formulation of the radiometer algorithm over land and thus serve a dual role in the efforts described here.

This section provides access to ground validation activities supported by NASA's GPM Project and by GPM Partners around the world.

Ground Validation Data Portal
The GPM Ground Validation Data Portal provides access to a wide range of ground validation data collected and managed by the MSFC Disdrometer and Radar Observations of Precipitation (DROP) facility. Instrument descriptions are provided along with useful data analysis tools and points of contact.

Validation Network Software and Data Products
The software that runs Data and the Validation Network (VN) is now open source. Validation Network data and end products are available. View documentation that describes the VN data, including the directory structure of the VN data archive. If you have questions about the data or software, please direct them to the Validation Network contacts. A recent peer-reviewed journal article on the Validation Network is available at the American Meteorological Society.

Ground Validation Science Implementation Plan
A Ground Validation Science Implementation Plan (GVSIP) has been drafted that summarizes the rationale and approach to GPM Ground Validation. The GVSIP includes information about field campaigns, instruments and data management that will be conducted in support of GPM algorithm development and product validation.

Ground Validation Ka/Ku Radar
The Dual-frequency Dual-polarized Doppler Radar (D3R) operates as a fully polarimetric, scanning weather radar system operating at the nominal frequencies of 13.91 GHz and 35.56 GHz covering a maximum range of 30 km (19 miles). The frequencies chosen allow close compatibility with the GPM Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar system. The D3R radar operates during the GPM ground validation field campaigns.

Field Campaigns

GCPEx
January - February 2012, Ontario Canada
The GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) campaign will take place during the winter season of January 15 though February 26, 2012. The campaign will be conducted as a cooperative venture between NASA and Environment Canada. Coordinated ground and aircraft observations will characterize the ability of multi-frequency active and passive microwave sensors to detect and estimate falling snow. The results of the GCPEx campaign will contribute to the implementation and testing of GPM snowfall retrieval algorithms. The GCPEx Science Plan provides details on the objectives and methods of the campaign.

MC3E
April - May 2011, Oklahoma
The Mid-Continent Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E) was conducted in the spring of 2011. This campaign took place in south-central Oklahoma in cooperation with the Department of Energy's (DoE) Atmospheric Radiation Program (ARM). The campaign contributed to the improvement of radar and microwave precipitation retrieval algorithms over land.

LPVEX
September - October 2010, Gulf of Finland
The Light Precipitation Evaluation Experiment (LPVEx) was conducted during September and October 2010 in the Gulf of Finland to characterize the ability of CloudSat and Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) to detect light rain and evaluate their estimates of rainfall intensity in high latitude, shallow freezing level environments. The campaign was conducted in cooperation with the Finnish Meteorological Institute and other partners. LPVEx data are now available, including ground-based Parsivel, 2-Dimensional Video Disdrometer, and Pluvio rain gauge data. Microphysical aircraft data are also available.

C3VP
Winter 2006-2007, Toronto Canada
A field campaign/physical validation prototype was recently completed in conjunction with the Canadian CloudSAT/CALIPSO Validation Programme (C3VP). The C3VP campaign made ground-based and aircraft-based measurements of snowfall and other forms of precipitation in the vicinity of the Centre for Atmospheric Research Experiments(CARE), located about 70 km (44 miles) north of Toronto. C3VP data are available.