UPDATE: The TRMMOpen FTP server has been shut down as of December 31st, 2019, coinciding with the scheduled end to TMPA production. Historical TMPA data will be made available on the GPM FTP servers in the near future. Our team is in the process of updating the links on this webpage to reflect this change, but in the meantime some of the URL's listed may be non-functional. Historical TMPA data can also be download from the NASA GES DISC at: https://disc.gsfc.nasa.gov/datasets?keywords=TMPA&page=1
TRMM Mission Comes to an End
After over 17 years of productive data gathering, the instruments on TRMM were turned off on April 8, 2015. The spacecraft re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere on June 15, 2015, at 11:55 p.m. EDT, over the South Indian Ocean, according to the U.S. Strategic Command’s Joint Functional Component Command for Space through the Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC), and most of the spacecraft was expected to burn up in the atmosphere during its uncontrolled re-entry. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), a joint mission of NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, was launched in 1997 to study rainfall for weather and climate research.
The GPM IMERG dataset now includes TRMM-era data going back to June 2000, and is now the recommended multi-satellite dataset to use for most purposes. The multi-satellite 3B42* / TMPA / TMPA-RT dataset ended on December 31, 2019. Learn more about the transition from 3B42*/TMPA to IMERG.
Read the TRMM end of mission frequently asked questions
* Use of the PPS FTP and STORM requires you to first register your email address. Click here to register.
Geophysical parameters that have been spatially and/or temporally resampled from Level 1 or Level 2 data.
3B42 RT: 3-Hour Realtime TRMM Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis
The system to produce the "TRMM and Other Data" estimates in real time was developed to apply new concepts in merging quasi-global precipitation estimates and to take advantage of the increasing availability of input data sets in near real time. The overall system is referred to as the real-time TRMM Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA-RT), and is currently in Version 7.
Documentation:
- Real-Time TRMM Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis Data Set Documentation (updated 4/26/18)
- Transitioning from TMPA (3B42x) to IMERG and Dataset Comparison
| Resolution | Regions - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25°, 3-hour | Latitudes 60°N-S, March 2000 to present | 8 Hours (realtime) | ||||||||||||
| 3B42RT Derived Imagery | ||||||||||||||
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3B42 RT Derived Daily Product
Daily precipitation totals derived from 3B42RT. The system to produce the "TRMM and Other Data" estimates in real time was developed to apply new concepts in merging quasi-global precipitation estimates and to take advantage of the increasing availability of input data sets in near real time. The overall system is referred to as the real-time TRMM Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA-RT), and is currently in Version 7. Full Documentation
- Real-Time TRMM Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis Data Set Documentation (updated 4/26/18)
- Transitioning from TMPA (3B42x) to IMERG and Dataset Comparison
| Resolution | Regions - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25° - daily | Latitudes 50°N-S - March 2000 to present | 8 Hours (realtime) |
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| 3B42RT Derived Imagery | |||||||||||||||||
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3B42 RT Derived 10-Day Product
10 day precipitation totals derived from 3B42RT. The system to produce the "TRMM and Other Data" estimates in real time was developed to apply new concepts in merging quasi-global precipitation estimates and to take advantage of the increasing availability of input data sets in near real time. The overall system is referred to as the real-time TRMM Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA-RT), and is currently in Version 7. Full Documentation
- Real-Time TRMM Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis Data Set Documentation (updated 4/26/18)
- Transitioning from TMPA (3B42x) to IMERG and Dataset Comparison
| Resolution | Regions - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3B42RT Derived Imagery | ||||||||
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3B42 Research Version (TRMM Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis)
The algorithm applied is the Version 7 TRMM Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis. For convenience, the data set is referred to in this document as the "TMPA." Note that there are other products in the general TRMM data inventory, so it is important to be specific about the product being used. The data set currently contains two products, three-hourly combined microwave-IR estimates (with gauge adjustment) and monthly combined microwave-IR-gauge estimates of precipitation computed on quasi-global grids about two months after the end of each month starting in January 1998.
Documentation:
- TRMM and Other Data Precipitation Data Set Documentation (updated 4/26/18)
- Transition of 3B42/3B43 Research Product from Monthly to Climatological Calibration/Adjustment
- Transitioning from TMPA (3B42x) to IMERG and Dataset Comparison
| Resolution | Regions - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25°, 3-hour | Latitudes 50°N-S, January 1998 to present | 8 Hours (realtime) |
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| 0.25°, 3-hour | Latitudes 60°N-S, 1998 - 2013 | Annual |
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| 3B42 Derived Imagery | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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3B42 Research Derived Daily Product
Daily precipitation totals derived from 3B42 Research Version. The algorithm applied is the Version 7 TRMM Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis. For convenience, the data set is referred to in this document as the "TMPA." Note that there are other products in the general TRMM data inventory, so it is important to be specific about the product being used. The data set currently contains two products, three-hourly combined microwave-IR estimates (with gauge adjustment) and monthly combined microwave-IR-gauge estimates of precipitation computed on quasi-global grids about two months after the end of each month starting in January 1998.
Documentation:
- TRMM and Other Data Precipitation Data Set Documentation (updated 4/26/18)
- Transition of 3B42/3B43 Research Product from Monthly to Climatological Calibration/Adjustment
- Transitioning from TMPA (3B42x) to IMERG and Dataset Comparison
| Resolution | Regions - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25° - daily | Latitudes 50°N-S - January 1998 to present | 2 months |
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| 3B42 Derived Imagery | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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3B41 RT: Rain rate estimated from geosynchronous infrared instruments
The system to produce the "TRMM and Other Data" estimates in real time was developed to apply new concepts in merging quasi-global precipitation estimates and to take advantage of the increasing availability of input data sets in near real time. The overall system is referred to as the real-time TRMM Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA-RT), and is currently in Version 7. Full Documentation
| Resolution | Regions - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25° - 3-hour | Latitudes 60°N-S - March 2000 to present | 8 Hours (realtime) |
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3B40 RT: Rain rate estimated from passive microwave radiometers
The system to produce the "TRMM and Other Data" estimates in real time was developed to apply new concepts in merging quasi-global precipitation estimates and to take advantage of the increasing availability of input data sets in near real time. The overall system is referred to as the real-time TRMM Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA-RT), and is currently in Version 7. Full Documentation
| Resolution | Regions - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25° - 3-hour | Latitudes 60°N-S - March 2000 to present | 8 Hours |
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3B43: Multisatellite Precipitation
The algorithm applied is the Version 7 TRMM Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis. For convenience, the data set is referred to in this document as the "TMPA." Note that there are other products in the general TRMM data inventory, so it is important to be specific about the product being used. The data set currently contains two products, three-hourly combined microwave-IR estimates (with gauge adjustment) and monthly combined microwave-IR-gauge estimates of precipitation computed on quasi-global grids about two months after the end of each month starting in January 1998.
Documentation:
- TRMM and Other Data Precipitation Data Set Documentation (updated 4/26/18)
- Transition of 3B42/3B43 Research Product from Monthly to Climatological Calibration/Adjustment
- Transitioning from TMPA (3B42x) to IMERG and Dataset Comparison
| Resolution | Regions - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25° - monthly | Latitudes 50°N-S, Jan. 1998 to present | 2 months |
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| 0.25°, monthly | Latitudes 50°N-S, 1998 - 2013 | Annual |
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| 3B43 Derived Imagery | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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3A46: SSM/1 Rain
TRMM product 3A46 consists of monthly Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) data averaged over 1 deg. x 1 deg. grid boxes and one month. Full documentation
| Resolution | Regions - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1° - monthly | Latitudes 40°N-S - January 1998 to September 2009 | 1 month |
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3B31: Combined Rainfall
The TRMM 3B31 Monthly 0.5 deg. x 0.5 deg. Combined Rainfall product, contains Rain rate, rain water, snow and graupel at 28 levels for a latitude band from 40 degree N to 40 degree S. It is derived from the TRMM combined algorithm (2B31), which combines data from the TMI and PR to produce the best rain estimate for TRMM. Full documentation
| Resolution | Regions - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5°, monthly | Latitudes 40S-40N - Jan. 1998 to present | 1 month |
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3A26: Surface Rain Total
The primary objective of the 3A26 is to compute the rain rate statistics over 5 degree (latitude) x 5 degree (longitude) x 1 month space-time regions. The output products include the estimated values of the probability distribution function of the space-time rain rates at 4 'levels' (2 km, 4 km, 6 km, and path-averaged) and the mean, standard deviation, and probability of rain derived from these distributions. Three different rain rate estimates are used for the high resolution rain rate inputs to the algorithm: (1) the standard Z-R (or 0th-order estimate having no attenuation correction), (2) the Hitschfeld-Bordan (H-B), and (3) the rain rates taken from 2A25. (Fits based on the high resolution inputs from the surface reference technique are output to the diagnostic file for evaluation). Full documentation
| Resolution | Regions - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5°, monthly | Latitudes 40S-40N - Jan. 1998 to present | 1 month |
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3A25: Spaceborne Radar Rainfall
The primary objective of algorithm 3A25 is to compute various rainfall statistics over a month from the level 2 PR products. The statistics are derived at two spatial resolutions: (1) a standard space scale of 5 degrees by 5 degrees (latitude x longitude) cells and (2) a high resolution subset of 0.5 degree x 0.5 degree cells. Full documentation
| Resolution | Regions - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5°, monthly | Latitudes 37S-37N - Jan. 1998 to present | 1 month |
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| 5°, monthly | Latitudes 40°N-S, January 1998 to present | 1 month |
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3A12: Mean 2A12, profile and surface rainfall
Profiling. Algorithm 3A12 produces global 0.5 deg. x 0.5 deg. monthly gridded means using 2A12 data. Vertical hydrometeor profiles and surface rainfall means are computed. Various pixel counts are also reported. The granule size is one month.This document provides basic information on 3A12, TMI Monthly 0.5 deg. x 0.5 deg. Profiling. Algorithm 3A12 produces global 0.5 deg. x 0.5 deg. monthly gridded means using 2A12 data. Vertical hydrometeor profiles and surface rainfall means are computed. Various pixel counts are also reported. The granule size is one month. Full documentation
| Resolution | Regions - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5°, monthly | 1 month |
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3A11: Oceanic Rainfall
The TMI Gridded Oceanic Rainfall Product, also known as TMI Emission, consists of 5 degree by 5 degree monthly oceanic rainfall maps using TMI Level 1 data as input. Statistics of the monthly rainfall, including number of samples, standard deviation, goodness-of-fit (of the brightness temperature histogram to the lognormal rainfall distribution function) and rainfall probability are also included in the output for each grid box. Spatial coverage is between 40 degrees North and 40 degrees South owing to the 35 degree inclination of the TRMM satellite. Full documentation
| Resolution | Regions - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5°, monthly | Latitudes 40°N-S, January 1998 to present | 1 month |
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Derived geophysical parameters at the same resolution and location as those of the Level 1 data.
2B31: Combined Rainfall Profile (PR, TMI)
2B31, ”TRMM Combined”, derives vertical hydrometeor profiles using data from PR radar and TMI. It also computes the correlation-corrected mass-weighted mean drop diameter and its standard deviation, and latent heating. Full Documentation
| Resolution | Region - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km x 5 km, 16 orbits per day | Orbital, available past ~7 days since acquisition | 3 Hours (Realtime) |
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| 5 km x 5 km, 16 orbits per day | Orbital, available past ~7 days since acquisition | 2 days (Production) |
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| 5 km x 5 km, 16 orbits per day | Orbital (Latitudes 38°N-S, December 07 1997 to present) | ~5 Days |
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2A25: Precipitation Radar Rainfall Rate and Profile
2A25, ”PR Profile”, produces an estimate of vertical rainfall rate profile for each radar beam. The rainfall rate estimate is given at each resolution cell of the PR radar. To compare with ground-based radar data, the attenuation corrected Z profile is also given. The average rainfall rate between the two pre-defined altitudes is calculated for each beam position. Other output data include parameters of Z-R relationships, integrated rain rate of each beam, range bin numbers of rain layer boundaries, and many intermediate parameters. Full Documentation
| Resolution | Region - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Orbital, available past ~7 days since acquisition | 3 hours (Realtime) |
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| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Orbital, available past ~7 days since acquisition | 2 Days (production) |
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| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Orbital (Latitudes 38°N-S, December 07 1997 to present) | ~5 Days |
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2A23: Precipitation Radar Rain Characteristics
PR 2A23 produces a rain/no-rain flag. Its main objectives are (1) to detect bright band (BB), (2) to classify rain type, and (3) to detect warm rain. 2A23 uses two different methods for classifying rain type: (1) vertical profile method (V-method) and (2) horizontal pattern method (H-method). Both methods classify rain into three categories: stratiform, convective, and other. To make the results user-friendly, 2A23 outputs a unified rain type. Further information about 2A23 can be found in Awaka et al. (1998). . Full Documentation
| Resolution | Region - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Orbital, available past ~7 days since acquisition | 3 hours (Realtime) |
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| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Orbital, Latitudes 38°N-S, December 07 1997 to present | 2 Days (production) |
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| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Orbital (Latitudes 38°N-S, December 07 1997 to present) | ~5 Days |
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2A21: Precipitation Radar Surface Cross-Section
The primary objective of the 2A21 is to compute the path integrated attenuation (PIA), using the surface reference technique (SRT). The SRT relies on the assumption that the difference between the measurements of the normalized surface cross section within and outside the rain provides a measure of the PIA. Full Documentation
| Resolution | Region - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Orbital, available past ~7 days since acquisition | 3 hours (Realtime) |
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| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Orbital, Latitudes 38°N-S, December 07 1997 to present | 2 Days (production) |
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| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Orbital (Latitudes 38°N-S, December 07 1997 to present) | ~5 Days |
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2A12: TMI Hydrometeor Profile
| Resolution | Region - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Orbital, available past ~7 days since acquisition | 3 hours (Realtime) |
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| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Orbital, Latitudes 38°N-S, December 07 1997 to present | 2 Days (production) |
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| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Orbital, Latitudes 38°N-S, December 07 1997 to present | ~15 Days |
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Level 1A: Reconstructed, unprocessed instrument data at full resolution, time referenced, and annotated with ancillary information, including radiometric and geometric calibration coefficients and georeferencing parameters (i.e., platform ephemeris), computed and appended, but not applied, to Level 0 data.
Level 1A: Reconstructed, unprocessed instrument data at full resolution, time referenced, and annotated with ancillary information, including radiometric and geometric calibration coefficients and georeferencing parameters (i.e., platform ephemeris), computed and appended, but not applied, to Level 0 data.
Level 1B: Radiometrically corrected and geolocated Level 1A data that have been processed to sensor units..
1C21: Precipitation Radar Reflectivity
The PR Level-1C product, 1C21, "PR Reflectivities," is written as a Swath Structure. Full Documentation
| Resolution | Region - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Orbital, available past ~7 days since acquisition | 3 hours (Realtime) |
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| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Latitudes 38°N-S - December 07 1997 to present | 2 days (Production) |
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| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Latitudes 38°N-S - December 07 1997 to present | ~15 days |
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1B21: Precipitation Radar Power
The 1B21 calculates the received power at the PR receiver input point from the Level-0 count value which is linearly proportional to the logarithm of the PR receiver output power. To convert the count value to the input power, extensive internal calibrations are applied, which are mainly based upon the system model, temperature dependence of model parameters and many temperature sensors attached at various locations of the PR. Periodically the input-output characteristics are measured using an internal calibration loop for the IF unit and later receiver stages. To make an absolute calibration, an Active Radar Calibrator (ARC) is placed at Kansai Branch of CRL and overall system gain of the PR is being measured every 2 months. Using the transfer function based on the above internal and external calibrations, the PR received power is obtained. Note that the value assumes that the signal follows the Rayleigh fading, so if the fading characteristics of a scatter is different, a small bias error may occur (within 1 or 2 dB). Full Documentation
| Resolution | Region - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Orbital, available past ~7 days since acquisition | 3 hours (Realtime) |
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| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Latitudes 38°N-S - December 07 1997 to present | 2 days (Production) |
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| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Latitudes 38°N-S - December 07 1997 to present | ~15 days |
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1B11: Microwave Brightness Temperature
The Level 1B product file (1B11) contains calibrated brightness temperatures and auxiliary geolocation information for each pixel in the scan. The structure of the Level 1B data file is based on the Wentz format for the SSM/I data. The Level 1B data are stored in the Hierarchical Data Format (HDF), which includes both core and product specific metadata applicable to the TMI measurements. A file contains a single orbit of data with a file size of about 14 MB (uncompressed). The HDF-EOS "swath" structure is used to accommodate the actual geophysical data arrays. As in the case of the Level 1A data, there are 16 files of TMI 1B11 data produced per day. Full Documentation
| Resolution | Region - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Orbital, available past ~7 days since acquisition | 3 hours (Realtime) |
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| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Latitudes 38°N-S - December 07 1997 to present | 2 days (Production) |
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| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Latitudes 38°N-S - December 07 1997 to present | ~5 days |
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1B01: Visible and Infrared Radiance
The Level 1B product file (1B01) contains calibrated radiances and auxiliary geolocation information for each pixel in the scan. The Level 1B data are stored in the Hierarchical Data Format (HDF), which includes both core and product specific metadata applicable to the VIRS measurements. A file contains a single orbit of data with a file size of about 87 MB (uncompressed). The HDF-EOS "swath" structure is used to accommodate the actual geophysical data arrays. As in the case of the Level 1A data, there are 16 files of VIRS 1B01 data produced per day. Full Documentation
| Resolution | Region - Dates | Latency | Format | Source | DL | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km x 5 km - 16 orbits per day | Latitudes 38°N-S, December 20 1997 to March 21 2014 | - |
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TRMM 3B42/43 Land Sea Mask
This file is the percent water surface coverage file used for the TRMM 3B42/43 products. It is REAL*4 (1440,720) IEEE little-endian format. The orientation is the same as the 3B42/3B43 data. The file displays percent water surface coverage with 100% = all water and 0% = all land.
- TMPA_Mask.nc.zip (zipped .netCDF file, 355KB)
LIS
The Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS), is a space based instrument used to detect the distribution and variability of total lightning (cloud-to-cloud, intracloud, and cloud-to-ground lightning) that occurs in the tropical regions of the globe.
Level 3 LIS Annual / Seasonal / Monthly Browse
The Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) is an instrument on the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission satellite (TRMM) used to detect the distribution and variability of total lightning occurring in the Earth's tropical and subtropical regions. This information can be used for severe storm detection and analysis, and also for lightning-atmosphere interaction studies. The LIS instrument makes measurements during both day and night with high detection efficiency.
Please include the following citation in your publications:
Blakeslee, Richard. 1998. Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) Science Data [indicate subset used]. Dataset available online from the NASA Global Hydrology Resource Center DAAC, Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.A.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/LIS/LIS/DATA201
| Resolution | Region - Dates | Format | Source | DL | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 - 6 km, Annual / Seasonal / Monthly | 40° N-S, 1/1/1998 - 4/8/2015 |
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Level 2 LIS Science Data
The Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) is an instrument on the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission satellite (TRMM) used to detect the distribution and variability of total lightning occurring in the Earth's tropical and subtropical regions. This information can be used for severe storm detection and analysis, and also for lightning-atmosphere interaction studies. The LIS instrument makes measurements during both day and night with high detection efficiency.
Please include the following citation in your publications:
Blakeslee, Richard. 1998. Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) Science Data [indicate subset used]. Dataset available online from the NASA Global Hydrology Resource Center DAAC, Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.A.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/LIS/LIS/DATA201
| Resolution | Region - Dates | Format | Source | DL | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 - 6 km, 16 orbits per day | Orbital 40° N-S, 1/1/1998 - 4/8/2015 |
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Level 1B LIS Backgrounds
Lightning Imaging Sensor Background Images. These background images created approximately one to two seconds apart provide the scene on which lightning can be plotted. When using the LIS/OTD Read Software, an entire orbits worth of background images can be displayed in a simple animation to allow a quick way to see if interesting cloud systems (hurricanes, MCSs, Frontal systems, etc.) were in the field of view.
Please include the following citation in your publications:
Blakeslee, Richard. 2010. Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) Backgrounds [indicate subset used]. Dataset available online from the NASA Global Hydrology Resource Center DAAC, Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.A..
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/LIS/LIS/DATA101
| Resolution | Region - Dates | Format | Source | DL | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Orbit | 1 Orbit, 40° N-S, 1/1/1998 - 4/8/2015 |
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VIRS
The Visible and Infrared Scanner (VIRS) sensor is one of the five instruments on the TRMM satellite. The VIRS instrument has a swath width of 720 km and a horizontal resolution of 2 km at nadir. VIRS is similar to the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) now in operation on polar-orbital environmental satellites.
VIRS Channels
| Channel | SpectralRegion | Wavelength (µm) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visible | 0.63 |
| 2 | Near Infrared | 1.60 |
| 3 | Near Infrared | 3.75 |
| 4 | Near Infrared | 10.8 |
| 5 | Infrared | 12.0 |
Level 1B01 Calibrated Radiance Product
The TRMM Visible and Infrared Scanner (VIRS) Level 1B Calibrated Radiance Product (1B01) contains calibrated radiances and auxiliary geolocation information from the five channels of the VIRS instrument, for each pixel of each scan. The data are stored in the Hierarchical Data Format (HDF), which includes both core and product specific metadata applicable to the VIRS measurements. A file contains a single orbit of data with a file size of about 95 MB. The EOSDIS "swath" structure is used to accommodate the actual geophysical data arrays. There are 16 files of VIRS 1B01 data produced per day.
For channels 1 and 2, Level 1B radiances are derived from the Level 1A (1A01) sensor counts by computing calibration parameters (gain and offset) derived from the counts registered during space and solar and/or lunar views. New calibration parameters are produced every one to four weeks. Channels 3, 4, and 5 are calibrated using the internal blackbody and the space view. These calibration parameters, together with a quadratic term determined pre-launch, are used to generate a counts vs. radiance curve for each band, which is then used to convert the earth-view pixel counts to spectral radiances.
Geolocation and channel data are written out for each pixel along the scan, whereas the time stamp, scan status (containing scan quality information), navigation, calibration coefficients, and solar/satellite geometry are specified on a per-scan basis. There are in general 18,026 scans along the orbit pre-boost and 18,223 post-boost, with each scan consisting of 261 pixels. The scan width is about 720 km pre-boost and 833 km post-boost.
| Resolution | Region - Dates | Format | Source | DL | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 km, 16 orbits per day | Orbital 38° N-S, 12/20/1997 - 4/8/2015 |
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Level 1A01
The Level-1A product is a simple concatenation of Level-0 data with a Header, which could easily be reversed back to Level-0. Level-1A remains in a binary format and is not in HDF. The Level-1B format groups like data together.
The Level-1A product consists of two files: the Level-1A Product file and the SFDU header file. The Level-1A Product file, ”1A-01,” is a concatenation of Header record, Spacecraft Attitude packets, VIRS Housekeeping Data packets, VIRS Science Data packets, QACs, and an MDUL. The SFDU header is a separate file whose format is specified in the Interface Control Document Between EOSDIS Core System (ECS) and TRMM Science Data and Information System (TSDIS) for the ECS Project.
| Resolution | Region - Dates | Format | Source | DL | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 km, 16 orbits per day | Orbital 38° N-S, 12/20/1997 - 4/8/2015 |
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