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GPMGV

Global Precipitation Measurement Mission Ground Validation

NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement Mission Ground Validation (GPMGV) program provides ground and airborne precipitation datasets to support physical validation of satellite-based precipitation retrieval algorithms.

Ground validation core instruments and measurements include multi-frequency dual-polarimetric radar, airborne microphysical probes, radar and radiometer observations (e.g., provision of a GPM core satellite "proxy"), and ground-based disdrometer and raingauge network observations. 

The GPMGV program also supports a Validation Network (VN) that matches Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI) rain rate and Precipitation Radar (PR) reflectivity and rain rate to ground‑based meteorological radars. Additional GPMGV datasets include Autonomous Parsivel Unit (APU), Joss-Waldvogel (JW) disdrometer, GPM Ground Validation Canadian CloudSat/CALIPSO Validation Project (C3VP), Tropical Warm Pool-International Cloud Experiment (TWP-ICE), and Two-Dimensional Video Disdrometer (2DVD) datasets.

NASA's GPMGV program is a member of the broader NASA Precipitation Measurement Mission. The requisite GV measurements include multi-frequency dual-polarimetric radar (S, C, X, Ka/Ku and W bands), airborne microphysical probe, radar and radiometer observations (for example, provision of a GPM core satellite "proxy"), and ground-based disdrometer and raingauge network observations as a core instrument and measurement complement.

The GPMGV instrument suite was deployed in numerous field campaigns in several different precipitation regimes. In addition to the ones listed in the "Core Instruments" tab, these campaigns and regimes also include NOAA's Hydrometeorological Testbed-Southeast campaign (HMT-SE; North Carolina, Summer 2014) as well as international partner-lead field efforts such as the GPM-Brazil CHUVA campaign (2009-2013).

The associated GV measurements and observational strategies seek to advance our physical understanding of precipitation processes and assure consistency between this understanding and the representation of those physical processes in NASA GPM retrieval algorithms.

GPMGV, as a member of the broader NASA Precipitation Measurement Mission, provides ground and airborne precipitation datasets supporting physical validation of satellite-based precipitation retrieval algorithms. 

NASA's Global Hydrometeorology Resource Center DAAC (GHRC DAAC) works with the GPMGV Science Manager to support the following GPMGV physical process studies, which rely on targeted field observations lasting roughly six weeks for intensive observation periods.

  • ICE_POP
  • OLYMPEX
  • IPHEX
  • IFloodS
  • HyMeX
  • GCPEx
  • MC3E
  • LPVEx
  • C3VP