Some of the raw Parsivel data is now available on the TRMM ftp server under the directory /tokay/c3vp/parsivel. The raw data of Parsivel output is the number of raindrops in 32 size classes by 32 velocity classes in a given minute. The parsivel_diameter.c3vp has three columns where midsize diameter in mm, size width in mm, and terminal fall speed in meter/sec are presented. The parsivel3_dropcounts.c3vp and parsivel4_dropcounts.c3vp files have 35 columns. The first three columns are the day of the year, hour, and minute (in UTC), while the rest of the columns is the number of drops in 32 size bins. The parsivel3_dsd.c3vp and parsivel4_dsd.c3vp files have similar structure as drop count files except that the number of drops per cubic meter of air per millimeter size interval is given.

The calculation of the raindrop size distribution requires the fall speed. We used both measured and terminal fall speed of the raindrops. The files where we used terminal fall speed are named as parsivel3_dsd_terminal.c3vp and parsivel4_dsd_terminal.c3vp. The integral rain parameters that were calculated from observed drop counts also require the fall speed except for rain rate. We used the similar name extension when we use terminal fall speed. The calculated rain parameters with observed fall velocities can be found in parsivel3_rainparameter.c3vp and parsivel4_rainparameter.c3vp.

The columns are the day of year, hour, minute (in UTC), total number of drops, number concentration in cubic meter of air, liquid water content in grams per cubic meter, rain rate in millimeter per hour, Rayleigh reflectivity in dBZ, cross section in millimeter square, and present weather based on WMO code. We have also provided rain summary files. These files are named as par3_raintotal.c3vp, and par4_raintotal.c3vp. The columns are the day of the year, event starting time (hour and minute), event ending time (hour and minute), number of rainy minutes, event maximum rain rate in millimeter per hour, event rain total in millimeter.

Please note that the events are separated based on one hour or longer rain-free periods. For instrument description, please see Lšffler-Mang Joss (2000, Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, volume 17, 130-139). For early Parsivel snow measurement analysis, please see Lšffler-Mang and Blahak (Journal of Applied Meteorology, volume 40, 843-849).