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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

SPLASH Field Study; Ott Disdrometer Raw & Stats Observations at Kettle Ponds, Colorado, 2021-09-30 to 2023-09-05 (NCEI Accession 0287378)

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From fall 2021 through summer 2023, NOAA and research partners conducted a field study (SPLASH - the Study of Precipitation, the Lower Atmosphere and Surface for Hydrometeorology). This field study established a state-of-the-art observing network in the East River watershed of the Colorado mountains with a goal of advancing weather and water prediction capabilities in areas with complex terrain. The ultimate goal of this project is improved prediction of weather and water in the Colorado mountains and beyond to inform societal preparedness and response.

Among the instruments used in this study were disdrometers, which are optical instruments mounted on a tripod that use a laser to measure the size and fall speed of precipitation particles – such as raindrops, snowflakes, or hail – that fall through the laser beam.

This archive consists of Disdrometer observations taken at the site at Kettle Ponds, Colorado. The raw observations and processed (stats) observations are included.
  • Cite as: Ballard, Brad; White, Allen; Gottas, Daniel (2024). SPLASH Field Study; Ott Disdrometer Raw & Stats Observations at Kettle Ponds, Colorado, 2021-09-30 to 2023-09-05 (NCEI Accession 0287378). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/kpfz-1x77. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:0287378
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Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
+1-301-713-3277
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 2021-09-30 to 2023-09-05
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -106.973006
East: -106.973006
South: 38.942005
North: 38.942005
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • Adler, B., Wilczak, J. M., Bianco, L., Bariteau, L., Cox, C. J., de Boer, G., Djalalova, I. V., Gallagher, M. R., Intrieri, J. M., Meyers, T. P., Myers, T. A., Olson, J. B., Pezoa, S., Sedlar, J., Smith, E., Turner, D. D., & White, A. B. (2023). Impact of Seasonal Snow‐Cover Change on the Observed and Simulated State of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer in a High‐Altitude Mountain Valley. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 128(12). https://doi.org/10.1029/2023jd038497
  • de Boer, G., White, A., Cifelli, R., Intrieri, J., Hughes, M., Mahoney, K., Meyers, T., Lantz, K., Hamilton, J., Currier, W., Sedlar, J., Cox, C., Hulm, E., Riihimaki, L. D., Adler, B., Bianco, L., Morales, A., Wilczak, J., Elston, J., … Webb, R. S. (2023). Supporting Advancement in Weather and Water Prediction in the Upper Colorado River Basin: The SPLASH Campaign. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 104(10), E1853–E1874. https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-22-0147.1
  • Feldman, D. R., Aiken, A. C., Boos, W. R., Carroll, R. W. H., Chandrasekar, V., Collis, S., Creamean, J. M., de Boer, G., Deems, J., DeMott, P. J., Fan, J., Flores, A. N., Gochis, D., Grover, M., Hill, T. C. J., Hodshire, A., Hulm, E., Hume, C. C., Jackson, R., … Xu, Z. (2023). The Surface Atmosphere Integrated Field Laboratory (SAIL) Campaign. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 104(12), E2192–E2222. https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-22-0049.1
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2024-01-24
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Purpose From fall 2021 through summer 2023, NOAA and research partners conducted a field study (SPLASH - the Study of Precipitation, the Lower Atmosphere and Surface for Hydrometeorology). This field study established a state-of-the-art observing network in the East River watershed of the Colorado mountains with a goal of advancing weather and water prediction capabilities in areas with complex terrain. Anticipated Benefits: In combination with scientific analysis of the resulting datasets, research will apply SPLASH observations and the resulting enhanced process-understanding to evaluate and improve NOAA's latest suite of modeling tools, including the Unified Forecast System, Rapid Refresh Forecast System, and National Water Model. The ultimate goal of this project will be improved prediction of weather and water in the Colorado mountains and beyond to inform societal preparedness and response.
Use Limitations
  • accessLevel: Public
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Ballard, Brad; White, Allen; Gottas, Daniel (2024). SPLASH Field Study; Ott Disdrometer Raw & Stats Observations at Kettle Ponds, Colorado, 2021-09-30 to 2023-09-05 (NCEI Accession 0287378). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/kpfz-1x77. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Collaborators
Contributors
Resource Providers
Publishers
Acknowledgments
  • Funding Agency: Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory
  • Funding Agency: Cooperative Institute for Research in Atmospheric Science
  • Funding Agency: Black Swift Technologies
  • Funding Agency: US Department of Energy
  • Funding Agency: US DOC; NOAA; OAR; ESRL; Global Systems Laboratory (GSL)
  • Funding Agency: US DOC; NOAA; OAR; ESRL; Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML)
  • Funding Agency: Colorado State University
  • Funding Agency: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
  • Funding Agency: National Center for Atmospheric Research
  • Funding Agency: US DOC; NOAA; OAR; ESRL; Physical Sciences Laboratory
  • Funding Agency: US DOC; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Funding Agency: University of Colorado - Boulder; Cooperative Institute for Research In Environmental Sciences
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • climatology
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords Provider Keywords
  • AA.AA - Accumulated precipitation (Measured)
  • Data acquisition software quality control(Measured)
  • Partial distribution(Measured)
  • RRRR.RRR - Precipitation intensity (Measured)
  • ZZ.ZZZ - Radar reflectivity factor(Measured)
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords Provider Instruments
  • Disdrometer
Project keywords Provider Project Names
  • SPLASH - Study of Precipitation, the Lower Atmosphere, and Surface for Hydrometeorology
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Keywords Send2NCEI Submission Package ID
  • JRPX7W
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Ballard, Brad; White, Allen; Gottas, Daniel (2024). SPLASH Field Study; Ott Disdrometer Raw & Stats Observations at Kettle Ponds, Colorado, 2021-09-30 to 2023-09-05 (NCEI Accession 0287378). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/kpfz-1x77. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • 2024-01-24T20:38:21Z - NCEI Accession 0287378 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • Parameter or Variable: RRRR.RRR - Precipitation intensity (Measured) (measured); Units: millimeter per hour; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Disdrometer; Sampling and Analyzing Method: RRRR.RRR Precipitation intensity; units: millimeter per hour This field corresponds to No. 01 on page 29 of the OTT manual..
  • Parameter or Variable: AA.AA - Accumulated precipitation (Measured) (measured); Units: millimeter; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Disdrometer; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Method: AA.A Accumulated precipitation since last raw sample; units: millimeter This field corresponds to No. 02 on page 29 of the OTT manual..
  • Parameter or Variable: ZZ.ZZZ - Radar reflectivity factor(Measured) (measured); Units: decibel; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Disdrometer; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Method: ZZ.ZZZ Radar reflectivity factor; units: decibel This field corresponds to No. 07 on page 29 of the OTT manual..
  • Parameter or Variable: Partial distribution(Measured) (measured); Units: binned by ClassNumber; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Disdrometer; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Method: Data Field 3-34: Partial distribution (count) binned by ClassNumber ClassNumber according to volume-equivalent diameter: ClassNumber ClassAverage(mm) ClassSpread(mm) 1 0.062 0.125 2 0.187 0.125 3 0.312 0.125 4 0.437 0.125 5 0.562 0.125 6 0.687 0.125 7 0.812 0.125 8 0.937 0.125 9 1.062 0.125 10 1.187 0.125 11 1.375 0.250 12 1.625 0.250 13 1.875 0.250 14 2.125 0.250 15 2.375 0.250 16 2.750 0.500 17 3.250 0.500 18 3.750 0.500 19 4.250 0.500 20 4.750 0.500 21 5.500 1.000 22 6.500 1.000 23 7.500 1.000 24 8.500 1.000 25 9.500 1.000 26 11.000 2.000 27 13.000 2.000 28 15.000 2.000 29 17.000 2.000 30 19.000 2.000 31 21.500 3.000 32 24.500 3.000 Note: Class 1 and Class 2 are limits and are not evaluated at the current time in measurements using the Parsivel since they are outside the measurement range of the device..
  • Parameter or Variable: Data acquisition software quality control(Measured) (measured); Units: quality control; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Disdrometer; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Method: Data Field 35-37: Data acquisition software quality control Blackout = number of data samples excluded during PC clock synchronization Good = number of samples that passed the quality control checks, as performed by the data acquisition software Bad = number of samples that failed the quality control checks, as performed by the data acquisition software.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • disdrometer
Last Modified: 2024-09-17T19:17:40Z
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