Overview of the Parsivel instrument:

• Measures size and fall velocity of hydrometeors
• Present weather sensor
• Sampling area: ~50 cm2, varies with drop diameter
• Number of size and velocity bins: 32 x 32 matrix
• Drop size range: 0.06-24.5 mm
• Velocity range: 0.05-20.8 m/sec
• Operation period at Wallops Island: Spring 2002 - present
• Manufacturer: OTT in Germany www.ott-hydrometry.de

The NASA Snowflake Video Imager obtained nearly continuous data from 1 Dec 06 thru 7 Mar 07.

This presentation contains a summary for the entire data set, which is sorted into (a) priority days selected by GSFC investigators, and (b) non-priority days.

The results are displayed in images of DSD(t), which reveal (a) the large variability of snowflakes sizes during events and (b) the intermittency of snowfall – even during intense storms.

Protocol for C3VP data.

The IDL procedure geo_match_z_pdf_profile_ppi_bb_prox_sca_ps.pro provides the capability to compute statistics and generate displays of PR and GV reflectivity from geometry-matched data produced by the GPM Validation Network prototype. These data are contained in a set of netCDF data files, one per “rainy” site overpass: a TRMM PR overpass of a ground radar (GV) site, with precipitation echoes present, referred to below as an “event”.

The IDL procedure pr_and_geo_match_x_sections.pro provides the capability to interactively select locations for, and display, vertical cross sections of PR and GV reflectivity from geometry-matched data produced by the GPM Validation Network prototype. These data are contained in a set of netCDF data files, one per “rainy” site overpass (a TRMM PR overpass of a GV radar site, with precipitation echoes present). By default, the procedure also displays a vertical cross section of the difference (PR-GV) between the PR and GV reflectivity from the geo-matched data.