PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (December 1, 2023) — In the ever-evolving landscape of weather and climate science, Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) continues to emerge as a beacon of innovation with a groundbreaking project initiated over a year ago. Headed by Dr. Ram Ray, Ph.D., a professor in the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (CAFNR), the university secured a substantial $499,599 grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) last December.

 

This ambitious five-year venture focuses on evaluating data from the Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM) rain gauge and Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG). Dr. Ray and his team aim to delve into precipitation characteristics, unraveling the impact of microclimates on rainfall distribution, a critical aspect in an era where extreme weather events are becoming increasingly prevalent.

“This five-year NASA project is providing tremendous opportunities for students, including STEM students, to work on this project and connect with other NASA scientists, students, and researchers with similar interests across the USA,” said Ray.

This project aligns with PVAMU’s commitment to cutting-edge research and offers invaluable opportunities for students and researchers. The infusion of half a million dollars in funding from NASA comes with three pairs of GPM rain gauges and three pairs of Parsivel (Laser Optical) Disdrometers, enhancing the university’s research capabilities.

The strategically placed rain gauges and Disdrometers across PVAMU’s 778+ acre research farm will provide precise rainfall measurements. These instruments, supplied by NASA, will quantify precipitation and delve into its properties, such as raindrop size and the fall velocity of hydrometeors. This initiative is poised to contribute significantly to studying microclimate effects on precipitation distribution in near-real time. 

To bolster its research infrastructure, PVAMU has installed rain gauges and Disdrometers diagonally across the research farm, covering locations from the southwest corner to the northeast corner. Including NASA’s GPM rain gauges will facilitate accurate precipitation measurements, allowing for calibration of other sensors on the farm and in the vicinity.

Beyond the confines of the university, the GPM rain gauge and IMERG precipitation datasets will play a pivotal role in hydrological model simulation. This valuable data will be accessible to a wide audience, including graduate and undergraduate students, hydrologists, meteorologists, as well as state and federal agencies involved in climate change and water resources management.

The significance of this project is further underscored by NASA’s inclusion of the PVAMU research farm site on its webpage. This recognition on a global platform elevates PVAMU’s profile, positioning it as a critical player in precipitation research. Interested parties can now access precipitation and Parsivel data collected at the PVAMU research farm through NASA’s platform.

“This collaboration between Prairie View A&M University and NASA epitomizes The University’s commitment to research excellence,” said PVAMU Vice President of Research & Innovation Magesh Rajan, Ph.D., P.E., MBA. “This project underscores The University’s unwavering dedication to advancing climate science and contributors to the broader scientific community as key players in developing research.”

“Since this project is connected with the global precipitation measurement (GPM) network, which connects global researchers, it provides tremendous opportunities to grow and support R2 institutions and pave a path toward The University’s status as an R1 institution,” said Ray.

In the face of a changing climate, PVAMU’s collaboration with NASA stands as a testament to its commitment to advancing scientific knowledge. This project reinforces the university’s R2 research institution status and highlights its contribution to the global understanding of precipitation dynamics.

NASA has prominently showcased the PVAMU research farm site on its webpage, offering a valuable platform for global users to explore further details about PVAMU. This feature is particularly significant for individuals interested in harnessing the precipitation and Parsivel data collected at the PVAMU research farm.

For more information, you can visit NASA’s official page at https://wallops-prf.gsfc.nasa.gov/IPMSI/ or access specific details about the PVAMU site at https://wallops-prf.gsfc.nasa.gov/IPMSI/Sites/PVAM/index.php.

 

By Jenna Craig