Precipitation Measurement Missions

Launched by NASA and JAXA in 1997, TRMM carries the first on-orbit active/passive instrument package to study the intensity and structure of tropical rainfall.

An international satellite mission to be launched by NASA and JAXA in 2014 that will set new standards for precipitation measurements worldwide using a network of satellites united by the GPM Core Observatory.

IFloodS Observes Severe Storm Outbreak

On Wednesday afternoon, June 12, a severe storm outbreak developed and moved across central and eastern Iowa, and then western Illinois, spawning huge thunderstorms and several tornadoes. NASA's Polarimetric (NPOL) precipitation radar, currently deployed in Iowa as part of the Iowa Flood Studies field campaign for the Global Precipitation Measurement mission, rapidly scanned these storms as they moved across the state.

Campaign to Improve Flood Forecasting

Ground data now being collected in northeastern Iowa by the Iowa Flood Studies (IFloodS) experiment will evaluate how well NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission satellite rainfall data can be used for flood forecasting. With rainfall estimates in hand, the science teams input them into flood prediction computer models and then evaluate how the rain estimates and their uncertainties affect the outcome of the flood forecast.

GPM Takes Rain Measurements Global

The Global Precipitation Measurement, or GPM, mission will set a new standard for precipitation measurements from space and it's doing so by joining forces with countries around the world, keeping not just one satellite's weather eye on the horizon, but nine.

GPM Core Observatory in space with constellation satellites in background.

The Global Reach of GPM: For Good Measure

The short video "For Good Measure" explains why scientists turn to satellites to get a worldwide view of rainfall. Filmed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., with a cast of more than 20 volunteers, the video walks through how rain touches our lives and how scientists plan to improve measurements with the upcoming Global Precipitation Measurement mission.

Join 60 of NASA's social media followers on Friday, April 12 at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., to learn about the many missions and partnerships between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Held on the Friday before a weekend of events at the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., the day-long NASA Goddard event is designed to be a celebration of the many successful and ongoing missions between...

MISSION UPDATES

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

2013 PMM Science Team Meeting

The NASA Precipitation Measurement Missions (PMM) Science Team for the TRMM and GPM missions met on March 18-21, 2013 in Annapolis, MD. This meeting included oral, poster, and evening working...

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LATEST RAINFALL DATA

TRMM image of the Earth displaying the last 3 hours of global rainfall accumulation

Download TRMM Data | Extreme Events | Precipitation Maps

Science

Through an advanced set of instruments, TRMM and GPM provide new information on precipitation characteristics and how rain and snow interact within the Earth system. This section explores how space-borne precipitation measurements are acquired, processed, and utilized.

Flight Project

The GPM Flight Project at Goddard Space Flight Center is responsible for the design, development, manufacturing, integration/testing, as well as operations of NASA-provided instruments, spacecraft, ground validation and data processing systems for the GPM mission.

Multimedia

Photos and videos that tell the story of the Precipitation Measurement Missions. Watch the GPM Core Observatory being built and tested at NASA Goddard, learn about the science of measuring precipitation, and more.

Data Access

TRMM provides a collection of rainfall products spanning the period of 1998 to the present. Once the Core Observatory is launched, GPM will provide a set of next-generation precipitation products covering the globe. This section outlines the various ways to query, view, and download these precipitation products.

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