Sience Field
Meteorology and Glaciology => Glaciology
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Title | Solid Precipitation Dataset from Rikubetsu, Northern Japan (2011-2025) |
| Sub-Title | |
| Data Summary | An experimental observatory was established in Rikubetsu (43.5N, 143.8E), northern Japan, in 2011 to develop a method for observing precipitation in Antarctica, and observations have been ongoing since then. In general, measuring snowfall (solid precipitation) is quite challenging, and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) organized an international project titled "Solid Precipitation Intercomparison Experiment (SPICE)" during the winters of 2013-2016. We participated in the SPICE project with observations conducted in Rikubetsu. The knowledge gained from these experimental observations is currently being applied to precipitation monitoring at Syowa Station (69.0S, 39.6E), Antarctica, as well as to the processing of the observed data. The observational data from Rikubetsu not only provide opportunities to evaluate instrument performance but also serve as a valuable indicator of climate change in a warming world, with over a decade of continuous records. |
| About Observation | |
| Spatial Coverage | |
| Data Location | Rikubetsu |
| Observaion Period / Temporal Coverage |
2011-11-21 - present |
| Data Period | 2011-11-21 - present |
| Observation Photo |
Panoramic view of the observatory
|
| Data Details | |
| Data Name | Weghing gauge (Geonor), Disdrometers (LPM, Parsivel, PWS), Tipping bucket gauges (RT3, RT4), Ceilometer (CT25K), Snow depth (SR50), Meteorology (Weather Station), 3D anemometer (USA-1) |
| Data Format | Digital record |
| Data Recording / Acquisition Sampling |
1-minute interval, 10-minute interval, and 1-hour interval |
| Observation Instruments | Weghing gauge (Geonor), Disdrometers (LPM, Parsivel, PWS), Tipping bucket gauges (RT3, RT4), Ceilometer (CT25K), Snow depth (SR50), Meteorology (Weather Station), 3D anemometer (USA-1) |
| Sample Data |
|
| Publication | |
| Publication method | Solid Precipitation Dataset from Rikubetsu (2011-2025) (under construction) |
| Data Policy | Cite below: Hirasawa, N., Konishi, H., and Iijima, Y. (202*), Precipitation and meteorological data in Rikubetsu in northern Japan during winter from 2012 to 2025. Polar Data Journal, *, *-*. Paper DOI: https://doi.org/10.20575/*** https://scidbase.nipr.ac.jp/modules/metadata/index.php?page=contentmanager&content_id=*** |
| Data Center (Contact Person) |
National Institute of Polar Research (Naohiko Hirasawa) |
| hira.n (at) nipr.ac.jp | |
| Related Organization | |
| Scientific Results / Publication |
Hirasawa, N., H. Konishi, K. Nishimura, C. Genthon and project group of Japan Meteorological Agency (2018), SPICE site report: Rikubetsu, Japan. WMO Solid Precipitation Intercomparison Experiment (SPICE) (2012 - 2015), IOM Report No.131, Annex 8.3. Hirasawa, N., H. Konishi, Y. Fujiyoshi, K. Shibata, and K. Iwamoto (2022), Snowfall detection by a newly deployed X-band Doppler radar at Syowa Station, Antarctica. Okhotsk Sea and Polar Oceans Research, 6, 36-41. http://doi.org/10.57287/ospor.6.36 Hirasawa, N. and H. Konishi (2023), Diurnal variation in precipitation and cloud formation during winter in Rikubetsu, inland Hokkaido, northern Japan. Okhotsk Sea and Polar Oceans Research, 7, 30-35. http://doi.org/10.57287/ospor.7.30 Hirasawa, N. and H. Konishi (2024), Intra-seasonal and inter-annual variations in snowfall and rainfall during winter in Rikubetsu, inland Hokkaido, Japan. Okhotsk Sea and Polar Oceans Research, 8, 1-7. http://doi.org/10.57287/ospor.8.1 Hirasawa, N. and H. Konishi (2025), Detection of extremely weak precipitation in Rikubetsu, inland Hokkaido, Japan. Okhotsk Sea and Polar Oceans Research, 9, 8-17. http://doi.org/10.57287/ospor.9.8 |
| Digital Object Identifier(DOI) | |
| Creator | Naohiko Hirasawa |
| Publisher | National Institute of Polar Research |