GPM_2APR: TRMM and GPM Satellite Radar Precipitation Profiles

Global precipitation data from the TRMM and GPM satellite radar missions. The dataset combines three legacy products (2A21, 2A23, 2A25) to provide path-integrated attenuation, rain type classification, and vertical profiles of reflectivity and rainfall rate. It was produced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with a temporal resolution of approximately 1.5 hours per orbit.

Use Cases

• Classifying rain types (stratiform, convective, other) based on the 2A23 algorithm outputs.
• Estimating path-integrated attenuation (PIA) using the surface reference technique described for 2A21.
• Analyzing vertical profiles of rainfall rate and reflectivity from the attenuation-corrected 2A25 data.
• Detecting bright band height and freezing level for atmospheric studies.
• Comparing pre- and post-boost satellite resolution (4.3 km vs. 5.0 km horizontal) for data consistency analysis.

Strengths

• Integrates three legacy TRMM radar datasets (2A21, 2A23, 2A25) into a unified GPM-like format.
• Provides specific horizontal resolution details: 4.3 km pre-boost (before August 2001) and 5.0 km post-boost.
• Includes derived geophysical parameters like rain type, storm top height, and estimated freezing level.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data format includes binary (BIN) files, which require specialized tools for access and processing.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing from the TRMM and GPM Precipitation Radar.

Time Range

Covers TRMM mission period, with a defined change in resolution occurring on 24 August 2001.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 02:16:46.995726; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global coverage within the satellite swath (215 km pre-boost, 247 km post-boost).