This VEALS_readme20250528.txt file was generated on 20250528 by Kaylee Alexander ------------------- GENERAL INFORMATION ------------------- 1. Title of Dataset Alta-Atwater Micro Rain Radar Data 2022–2024 2. Author Information Principal Investigator Contact Information Name: Peter Veals Institution: Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah Address: 819 William C. Browning Building Email: peter.veals@utah.edu ORCID: 0000-0002-4229-8509 Associate or Co-investigator Contact Information Name: Michael Wasserstein Institution: Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah Address: 819 William C. Browning Building Email: michael.wasserstein@utah.edu ORCID: 0009-0003-8524-824X Associate or Co-investigator Contact Information Name: Jim Steenburgh Institution: Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah Address: 819 William C. Browning Building Email: jim.steenburgh@utah.edu ORCID: 0000-0003-1028-4230 3. Date of data collection (single date, range, approximate date): 20221028 to 20240515 4. Geographic location of data collection (where was data collected?): Alta-Atwater (ATW) snow-study plot, Alta, UT (111.6377 W, 40.5912 N) 5. Information about funding sources that supported the collection of the data: National Science Foundation; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -------------------------- SHARING/ACCESS INFORMATION -------------------------- 1. Licenses/restrictions placed on the data: CC BY NC - Allows others to use and share your data non-commercially and with attribution. 2. Links to publications that cite or use the data: NA 3. Links to other publicly accessible locations of the data: NA 4. Links/relationships to ancillary data sets: NA 5. Was data derived from another source? No 6. Recommended citation for the data: Veals, Peter, Michael Wasserstein, and Jim Steenburgh. 2025. "Alta-Atwater Micro Rain Radar Data 2022–2024." The Hive: University of Utah Research Data Repository. https://doi.org/10.7278/S5d-wern-v6kz. --------------------- DATA & FILE OVERVIEW --------------------- 1. File List A. Filename: Alta_MRR_NetCDF_2022_2024.zip Short description: This is a directory containing files using the following naming conventions: processed_Alta_[YYYYMMDD]_030m.nc and processed_Alta_[YYYYMMDD]_180m.nc. Within this directory, there are 2 files for each calendar day, with the day being defined in UTC. The 1st file will have a "30m" suffix indicating that the data is using 30m range gates. The 2nd file will have a "180m" suffix indicating the data is using 180m range gates. 2. Relationship between files: NA 3. Additional related data collected that was not included in the current data package: NA 4. Are there multiple versions of the dataset? No -------------------------- METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION -------------------------- 1. Description of methods used for collection/generation of data: The Metek Micro Rain Radar (MRR) was fixed to a platform 5m above the ground, and was pointed within 1.5 degrees of vertical (generally within 1.0 degree) for the entire dataset period. There was a heater operated on the dish to mitigate snow accumulation, although occasionally this was insufficient. These occasional periods of snow collection can be dealt with using a variety of methods. Contact the authors for more information. 2. Methods for processing the data: The raw MRR files were processed using the method of Maahn and Kollias (2012) to improve their usability for the low reflectivity values typical of snowfall. They were then converted to NetCDF format. 3. Instrument- or software-specific information needed to interpret the data: NetCDF files can be read using a variety of open-source software. For a quick look at the data, we suggest NCview. For processing and analysis, various python packages are best. 4. Standards and calibration information, if appropriate: NA 5. Environmental/experimental conditions: The Metek Micro Rain Radar (MRR) was fixed to a platform 5m above the ground, and was pointed within 1.5 degrees of vertical (generally within 1.0 degree) for the entire dataset period. There was a heater operated on the dish to mitigate snow accumulation, although occasionally this was insufficient. 6. Describe any quality-assurance procedures performed on the data: NA 7. People involved with sample collection, processing, analysis and/or submission: NA ----------------------------------------- DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: Alta_MRR_NetCDF_2022_2024.zip ----------------------------------------- 1. Number of variables: Inside Alta_MRR_NetCDF_2022_2024.zip, there are 2 files for each day. Within each of these files, there are 4 variables. 2. Number of cases/rows: Each file (processed_Alta_[YYYYMMDD]_030m.nc OR processed_Alta_[YYYYMMDD]_180m.nc) contains approximately 700 radar scans during the 24 hour period that it encompasses. 3. Variable List A. Name: Time Description: The time that a radar scan occurred. This will be approximately every 2 minutes B. Name: Ze Description: Equivalent radar reflectivity. The amount of microwave radiation that is reflected back to the receiver C. Name: spectralWidth Description: The width of the spectrum of the doppler-shifted microwave radiation D. Name: W Description: Doppler velocity. The velocity of hydrometeors toward/away from the radar 4. Missing data codes: NA 5. Specialized formats of other abbreviations used: NA