GCPEx Operations Trailer
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The operations, or ops, trailer on the grounds of the CARE site.
Ground Validation
Content related to ground validation activities and field campaigns.
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.
Scientists Inside the GCPEx Operations Trailer
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Inside the GCPEx operations trailer. It's a cramped and busy space.
Day 2: Planning for Snow
Ben Johnson is a scientist at Goddard Space Flight Center who specializes in remote sensing of snow. This week he is at the CARE site in Ontario as one of the mission scientists for the GCPEx ground validation. Inside the operations trailer. It's a cramped and busy space. Credit: NASA / Ben Johnson Tuesday night we had a good snowfall after having rain for most of the day. About 5-10 cm of snow fell in a very short amount of time. We were able to get some good measurements from the ground equipment, some of which is shown in the pictures. Also, the NASA DC-8 aircraft arrived in Bangor Maine
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
GCPEx Scientists in the Operations Trailer
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Dave Hudak (center) demonstrates the Environment Canada radar display in the operations trailer. Looking on are Walt Petersen (left) and Mark Kulie (right).
D3R Instrument at the GCPEx CARE Site
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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.
ADMIRARI Instrument at the GCPEx CARE Site
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The University of Bonn ADMIRARI Radiometer deployed at the CARE site.
This instrument measures microwaves that are naturally emitted from Earth's surface to determine water vapor and cloud and liquid water in the air column.
Day 1: GCPEx Commences
Today the GPM Cold-weather Precipitation Experiment (GCPEx) officially began, and instead of snow, all that came down from the sky was cold rain. Location of the GCPEx experiment Fortunately Environment Canada's Weather Office says significant snow (and, yes, freezing rain, too) is on the horizon for Southern Ontario, where ground stations instrumented to within an inch of their lives are situated. The main GCPEx ground station is at the Centre for Atmospheric Research Experiments (CARE) in Egbert, Ontario, about 44 miles (70 km) north of Toronto and about 27 miles (44 km) southeast of Lake
GCPEx: DC-8 Takeoff
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The DC-8 aircraft taking off from a runway.
This airplane will be used in the upcoming GCPEx field campaign to measure falling snow.