GPM_2BCMB: Combined Precipitation Data from GMI and DPR Instruments

Version 07 supersedes all older versions of this precipitation product. NASA's algorithm combines data from the GPM Microwave Imager and Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar instruments to determine precipitation structure. The Level 2 product contains data acquired by GPM instruments in one orbit, structured as two swaths matching KuPR and KaPR rays.

Use Cases

• Model precipitation structure based on combined radar and imager data
• Analyze atmospheric water vapor content based on satellite-derived measurements
• Validate precipitation algorithms using the dual-frequency radar data
• Study orbital-scale precipitation patterns based on granule-level data

Strengths

• Version 07 is the current and authoritative version, superseding older data
• Data combines measurements from two distinct satellite instruments (GMI and DPR)
• Product contains data for one complete orbit, or granule
• Algorithm has also been applied to TRMM observations from December 1997 to April 2015

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
• Data may reflect temporal bias inherent to the GPM mission period

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Created from combined data from the GPM Microwave Imager and Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar instruments.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 02:08:16.511118

Geography

Global