Global Precipitation Measurement Microwave Radiometer Level 2A Profiles

GPM's GPROF algorithm provides precipitation profiles and cloud hydrometeor data from a constellation of 10 passive microwave sensors, including GMI, SSMI, and MHS. The dataset offers consistent 3-hour global coverage through near-realtime, standard, and climate product versions. NASA's GES DISC archives this data, with Version 07 representing the current processing standard.

Use Cases

• Retrieve mean surface rain rate and its uncertainty from brightness temperature observations for hydrological modeling.
• Analyze the vertical structure of cloud and precipitation hydrometeors for atmospheric science studies.
• Compare precipitation estimates across different satellite sensors (e.g., GMI, SSMIS, MHS) using the consistent Bayesian algorithm.
• Assimilate near-realtime precipitation profiles, using GANAL forecast fields, into weather prediction models.
• Generate long-term climate records by using the climate product version which incorporates ECMWF reanalysis data.

Strengths

• Provides consistent retrievals across a constellation of 10 different satellite sensors.
• Offers three processing streams (NRT, standard, climate) for different latency and ancillary data needs.
• Algorithm retrieves both a mean rain rate and the full vertical profile of hydrometeors with uncertainty.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, spatial resolution details, and precise temporal coverage are not provided in the input.
• Ancillary data sources (GANAL, ECMWF) differ between product versions, affecting cross-version consistency for some analyses.
• The a-priori database for initial versions was constructed from composite sources, potentially introducing early-record biases.

Provenance

Source

NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission, processed and archived by the GES DISC.

Collection Method

Bayesian retrieval algorithm (GPROF) applied to brightness temperature data from passive microwave radiometers on multiple satellites.

Time Range

Coverage is ongoing from the GPM era; specific start date is null.

Freshness

Update frequency is implied by the near-realtime (NRT) product availability within 3 hours of collection, but exact schedule is null.

Geography

Global coverage, achieved by combining observations from the satellite constellation.