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Instrument

APU
Autonomous Parsivel Unit

The Autonomous Parsivel Unit (APU) is an in situ, ground-based optical disdrometer. It measures the size and fall velocity of hydrometeors, with a size range of 0-25 mm and a fall speed range of 0-20 m/s. Using these measurements, the drop size distribution, type, intensity, and amount of precipitation can be determined. The APU operates in the 650-780 nm wavelength range and typically samples every 10 seconds.

Image of the APU disdrometers
NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory passes Antarctica's tallest peak, Mount Vinson, on Oct. 22, 2012, during a flight over the continent to measure changes in the massive ice sheet and sea ice. Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger (Photography courtesy NASA Images)

Overview

Instrument Details

Meter/Analyzer
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Droplet Size
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Hydrometeors
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Liquid Precipitation > Rain
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Rate
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Amount
Land Surface
10 s
Point
385-462 THz
Currently unavailable

Instrument Operation

OLYMPEX

Olympic Mountains Experiment

2015—2016
Olympic Peninsula in U.S. Washington State
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1 Deployment
· 36 Data Products
IPHEx

Integrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment

2014
Southern Appalachians, including portions of North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia
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1 Deployment
· 47 Data Products
MC3E

Mid-latitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment

2011
Central Oklahoma, Southern Plains
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1 Deployment
· 34 Data Products
ICE-POP

International Collaborative Experiment for PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympics

2017—2018
South Korea
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1 Deployment
· 5 Data Products
IMPACTS

Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Snowstorms

2020—2023
Eastern United States
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3 Deployments
· 73 Data Products
GCPEx

GPM Cold Season Precipitation Experiment

2012
Ontario, Canada and northern portions of the United States (e.g., New York state, the New England area, etc.)
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1 Deployment
· 44 Data Products
C3VP

Canadian CloudSat/CALIPSO Validation Project

2006—2007
Ontario, Canada
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1 Deployment
· 6 Data Products
PECAN

Plains Elevated Convection at Night

2015
Great Plains, United States
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1 Deployment
· 0 Data Products
IMPACTS

Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Snowstorms

2020—2023
Eastern United States
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3 Deployments
· 73 Data Products
PECAN

Plains Elevated Convection at Night

2015
Great Plains, United States
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1 Deployment
· 0 Data Products

Data Products

Filter data products from this instrument by specific campaigns, platforms, or formats.

Campaigns
CAMPAIGNS
Platforms
PLATFORMS
Formats
FORMATS
http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/HYMEX/APU/DATA301External Link
Field Site
http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/IFLOODS/APU/DATA301External Link
Field Site
http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/IFLOODS/APU/DATA401External Link
Field Site
10.5067/GPMGV/IPHEX/APU/DATA301External Link
Field Site
http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/GCPEX/APU/DATA301External Link
Field Site
http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/LPVEX/APU/DATA301External Link
Field Site
http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/MC3E/APU/DATA301External Link
Field Site
http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/MC3E/APU/DATA201External Link
Field Site
http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/OLYMPEX/APU/DATA301External Link
Field Site
10.5067/GPMGV/IPHEX/APU/DATA302External Link
Field Site
10.5067/GPMGV/ICEPOP/APU/DATA101External Link
Field Site
10.5067/IMPACTS/APU/DATA101External Link
Field Site
ASCII
Field Site