GPM GPROF: Climate-Referenced Satellite Precipitation Profiles from NOAA-18 MHS

Version 07 of the GPM_2AGPROFNOAA18MHS_CLIM dataset provides precipitation profiles and related atmospheric fields from the NOAA-18 satellite's Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS). The data is processed using the GPROF Bayesian algorithm with ECMWF-Interim reanalysis as ancillary data to ensure homogeneity for climate studies. This product is part of the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission constellation and is produced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Use Cases

• Analyzing long-term precipitation patterns and climate variability based on the climate-referenced retrieval method.
• Validating and improving numerical weather prediction models based on Bayesian-derived precipitation profiles and hydrometeor vertical structure.
• Studying atmospheric water vapor and cloud processes based on retrieved brightness temperature proximity and hydrometeor data.
• Conducting inter-sensor calibration and consistency studies across the GPM constellation of passive microwave sensors.

Strengths

• Uses a consistent Bayesian algorithm (GPROF) with a common a-priori database across multiple satellite sensors, enabling parametric and comparable retrievals.
• Designed as a Climate-Reference product using homogeneous ECMWF-Interim reanalysis ancillary data for long-term record consistency.
• Provides uncertainty estimates for retrieved precipitation rates and hydrometeor vertical structure.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and spatial/temporal resolution specifics are not provided in the available metadata.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Retrievals from the NOAA-18 MHS passive microwave sensor using the GPROF (GPROF) Bayesian algorithm.

Time Range

Climate time series; specific start and end dates are not provided.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03 13 01:57:38.030022; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global coverage from satellite observations; specific spatial resolution is 17 km as indicated in the title.