GSMaP IFloodS: Global Satellite Rainfall Rate Estimates

Global satellite-derived rainfall rate maps at a 0.1-degree spatial resolution, produced hourly. The data were generated for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Ground Validation Iowa Flood Studies (IFloodS) field campaign. It combines microwave radiometer and geostationary infrared data from the JAXA GSMaP project.

Use Cases

• Validating ground-based radar rainfall estimates against satellite observations during the IFloodS campaign.
• Analyzing the spatial and temporal patterns of precipitation at a global scale with hourly resolution.
• Calibrating hydrological models for flood prediction using microwave and infrared-derived rain rate inputs.

Strengths

• Provides a specific, high-resolution (0.1-degree) global spatial grid.
• Offers a high temporal resolution with hourly data products.
• Cross-platform presence on NASA and government portals indicates established provenance and importance.

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is low; column names and exact row/size counts are unknown.
• Temporal coverage is extremely limited to a specific campaign period from April 22 to June 30, 2013.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates (2013 vs. 2026) across sources create uncertainty about metadata maintenance.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), JAXA GSMaP project

Collection Method

Derived from a collection of algorithms utilizing microwave radiometer and geostationary infrared data.

Time Range

April 22, - June 30, 2013

Freshness

2026-04-10 02:59:36.010149

Geography

Global