GPM PRPS: Satellite-Based Precipitation Profiles from SAPHIR Radiometer

Version 6 is the current version of this dataset, superseding older versions. The dataset provides instantaneous precipitation estimates and error assessments derived from matched SAPHIR-DPR satellite radiances, using a static a priori database and topographical data, independent of dynamic model information. It is produced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and was last updated on 2026-03-13.

Use Cases

• Calibrating precipitation retrievals from passive microwave satellite constellations based on the core GPM observatory's role.
• Generating climatological precipitation products based on the algorithm's independence from model data trends.
• Assessing precipitation estimation error and data quality based on the provided error assessment and quality flag.
• Analyzing instantaneous precipitation at constant resolution across all scan positions based on the algorithm's design.

Strengths

• Provides precipitation estimates independent of dynamic model data, which is advantageous for near real-time and climatological applications.
• Includes an assessment of error and a quality flag for each precipitation estimate.
• Current version is Version 6, superseding all older versions.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Retrieval algorithm (Precipitation Retrieval and Profiling Scheme - PRPS) applied to satellite radiances from SAPHIR and DPR instruments.

Time Range

Temporal coverage is not explicitly stated, but data is likely continuous from the GPM mission.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 01:56:51.141229; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global spatial coverage from satellite observations.