GPM GPROF: Satellite-Based Global Precipitation Profiles and Rates

GPM_2AGPROFMETOPCMHS is a Level 2A precipitation dataset from NASA's GES DISC, using the GPROF algorithm. The algorithm retrieves precipitation profiles and rates from multiple passive microwave satellite sensors, including MHS on METOP-C, to provide broad 3-hour global coverage. Version 07 data, last updated in March 2026, uses a Bayesian method with an a-priori database of rain profiles to estimate mean rain rate and hydrometeor structure.

Use Cases

• Modeling global precipitation patterns based on multi-sensor satellite brightness temperature retrievals.
• Analyzing vertical cloud and precipitation hydrometeor structure based on Bayesian profile retrieval.
• Studying atmospheric water vapor and precipitation consistency across a satellite constellation.
• Validating climate and weather forecast models based on near-real-time and reanalysis-integrated data products.

Strengths

• Provides data from a constellation of partner passive microwave sensors for broad spatial and temporal sampling.
• Offers multiple processing streams (near-real-time, standard, climate) using different ancillary data sources for flexibility.
• Uses a consistent, parametric Bayesian retrieval method across all sensors for homogeneous data records.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and data volume are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for large-scale ML projects.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) via GES DISC.

Collection Method

Retrieved via the GPROF (2AGPROF) Bayesian algorithm from passive microwave satellite sensor observations.

Time Range

Provides near-real-time (within 3 hours), standard (within 48 hours), and climate (within 3 months) data products.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03 13 02:17:54.319524.

Geography

Global coverage achieved by the GPM satellite constellation.