Articles | Volume 15, issue 22
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-6545-2022
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-6545-2022
Research article
 | 
17 Nov 2022
Research article |  | 17 Nov 2022

A comparative evaluation of snowflake particle shape estimation techniques used by the Precipitation Imaging Package (PIP), Multi-Angle Snowflake Camera (MASC), and Two-Dimensional Video Disdrometer (2DVD)

Charles Nelson Helms, Stephen Joseph Munchak, Ali Tokay, and Claire Pettersen

Data sets

GPM Ground Validation Precipitation Imaging Package (PIP) ICE POP V1 Larry Bliven https://doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/ICEPOP/PIP/DATA101

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Short summary
This study compares the techniques used to measure snowflake shape by three instruments: PIP, MASC, and 2DVD. Our findings indicate that the MASC technique produces reliable shape measurements; the 2DVD technique performs better than expected considering the instrument was designed to measure raindrops; and the PIP technique does not produce reliable snowflake shape measurements. We also demonstrate that the PIP images can be reprocessed to correct the shape measurement issues.