- Overview
- The Data
- Characteristics
- Source
- The Files
- Size and Format
- Data Access and Contacts
- FTP Site
- Points of Contact
- Overview
- The Data
- Characteristics
- Source
- The Files
- Size and Format
- Data Access and Contacts
- FTP Site
- Points of Contact
The primary source of rainfall data for the intensive flux array (IFA) were precipitation radars on ships stationed in the IFA during the intensive observing period (IOP), November 1, 1992 through February 28, 1993. Research vessels Vickers and Xiangyanghong #5 (also called PRC #5), operating under the aegis of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Office, were the primary radar ships and were equipped with 5-cm (c-band) Doppler radars. Their principal science objective was to gather ground truth data for Project TRMM.
Characteristics
Products Radar Data Rain Maps Rain Gauge Data Parameters Reflectance/backscatter rainfall Data format Universal GIF ASCII Processing level level 1 Temporal Coverage November 1, 1992 - February 28, 1993 Temporal Resolution: Continuous scans 1-min avgs Spatial Coverage 2 deg N to 6 deg S; 150 to 160 deg E Spatial Resolution point data Source
Platforms
Two Doppler radars, stabilized in order to obtain rainfall statistics and single-Doppler velocity measurements, were operated in COARE. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's 5 cm radar was deployed on board the U.S. research ship Vickers. The NOAA/TOGA radar, also a 5 cm system, was deployed on board the People's Republic of China research vessel #5 (Xiangyanghong #5, also called PRC #5) .
Instrument Characteristics
Both radars use magnetron beamwidths. The stabilization technique, using an inertial navigation unit to supply roll and pitch information to the antenna (which is actively driven to compensate for ship motions), provides adequate beam pointing accuracy to map rainfall and provide single-Doppler velocity information. One additional objective of the program is to test the usefulness of this particular stabilization technique for dual-Doppler purposes. Hence it is desired, at selected times (probably to or from port), to collect dual Doppler data by moving the ships within 50 km or so of each other. However, single-Doppler scanning to map rainfall and collect single-Doppler velocity and reflectivity information will be emphasized while at sea in the COARE observational area. It is also desired to collect single-Doppler data in conjunction with a Doppler aircraft to test dual-Doppler retrieval by combining the surface data with the airborne data. This is an interesting test since the aircraft obtain dual-Doppler data themselves which can be compared to the results using the ship system. These types of data intercomparisons are routinely possible in COARE when the Doppler aircraft are in the vicinity of the Doppler radar ships.
Data Product Approx File Size Format binary radar files < 1 MB Universal rain maps < 8 KB GIF rain gauge data variable ASCII
Ftp Site
The TOGA COARE ship radar rain maps may be accessed directly from this document
- or via FTP at
- ftp disc.gsfc.nasa.gov
- login: anonymous
- password: < your internet address >
- cd data/toga_coare/ship/images
Points of Contact
- For technical information about the TRMM shipborne radars, contact
- David B. Wolff
- NASA/TRMM Office
- NASA/GSFC/910.1
- Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA
- Internet:wolff@trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov
- For information about or assistance in using any NASA/TOGA COARE data, contact
- GES DISC User Services
- Code 610.2
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
- Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
- E-mail: GES DISC User Services
- 301 614-5224
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