OLYMPEX Field Campaign Makes Stop On Olympic Peninsula

Scientists test a Doppler-on-Wheels at Lake Quinault on the Olypmic Peninsula. (Courtesy of Erika Schultz / The Seattle Times)

The OLYMPEX Project, a collaboration between NASA, the University of Washington and the National Science Foundation, is gathering ground-truth data on the Olympic Peninsula, according to the Seattle Times. The data will be used to validate measurements of the Global Precipitation Measurement satellite.

Instruments used in the effort include radars, weather balloons and ground-based sensors. NASA aircraft are being flown over the study area, Lake Quinault, to gather measurements. And volunteers with the effort are also gathering rain data to share with researchers.

Scientists involved with the effort say that their results will help to fine-tune weather and flood forecasting in the Northwest. But the information will also be useful for refining weather forecasts and the tracking of severe storms across the globe.

Top image: Scientists test a Doppler-on-Wheels at Lake Quinault on the Olypmic Peninsula. (Courtesy of Erika Schultz / The Seattle Times)