STAR Snowflake Microphotography

The snowflake microphotography was taken to: (1) provide detailed precipitation characteristics that occurred in Iqaluit; (2) to be used in conjunction with radar data and laser precipitation data to identify local precipitation characteristics and evolution during precipitation events; and (3) provide valdation/comparison of Cloudsat and other satellite data. Photos of precipitation particles were taken using a Nikon D1x camera during six precipitation events over the 2007 fall field campaign.

Temporal resolution of the photographs varied from five-minutes to one-hour. Photos were taken in the Upper Air Shed at the Iqaluit weather office. Files were stored in a *.jpg format with average individual file sizes of >2 MB per photo.