GCPEx Operations Trailer and D3R
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View of the operations trailer at the GCPEx CARE site with the D3R radar set up nearby.
D3R
Laying the Groundwork - First Photos from the Field!
GPM's ground validation scientist, Walt Petersen sent us our first photos from the CARE site in Ontario, Canada. Snow's already on the ground, now we're just waiting for more to fall! The University of Bonn ADMIRARI Radiometer deployed at the CARE site. It measures microwaves that are naturally emitted from Earth's surface to determine water vapor and cloud and liquid water in the air column. Credit: NASA / Walt Petersen The NASA D3R radar deployed at the CARE site. This radar scans the air column for snow falling from the clouds to the ground. It uses two frequencies that together can
D3R Instrument at the GCPEx CARE Site
Image Caption
The NASA D3R radar deployed at the CARE site.
This radar scans the air column for snow falling from the
clouds to the ground. It uses two frequencies that together can determine
the shape and size of snowflakes, and the distribution of those sizes
throughout the clouds and snowing area.
D3R Instrument on the Road
Image Caption
The D3R ground validation instrument attached to a trailer and ready for deployment.
Dual-frequency Dual-polarized Doppler Radar (D3R)
The D3R will operate as part of GPM Ground Validation, supporting GPM pre-launch algorithm development and will contribute to post-launch precipitation product validation. In the pre-launch era, the D3R provides independent estimation of hydrometeor classification and drop size distribution retrievals. The radar thus offers an insight into the microphysical processes that dominate the retrieval (and associated measurement error) of precipitation types and rates from satellite data.