GPM SSMI F11: Global Monthly Precipitation Grids for Climate Studies

Global monthly precipitation averages derived from the SSMI sensor on the F11 satellite using the GPROF algorithm. The data is produced by NASA's GES DISC and uses climate-consistent ECMWF-Interim reanalysis for ancillary atmospheric conditions. Version 07 is the current and superseding version of this dataset.

Use Cases

• Analyzing long-term global precipitation trends based on climate-referenced monthly averages.
• Validating and calibrating climate models using homogeneous microwave sensor retrievals.
• Studying the distribution of liquid and ice-phase precipitation hydrometeors in the atmosphere.
• Investigating regional precipitation variability for climate impact assessments.

Strengths

• Uses climate-homogeneous ancillary data (ECMWF-Interim reanalysis) for consistent time-series analysis.
• Based on retrievals from high-quality microwave sensors sensitive to precipitation phases.
• Current version (V07) supersedes all older versions, ensuring data consistency.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Ancillary data has a 2-3 month lag behind regular production, which may affect near-real-time applications.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) via GES DISC

Collection Method

Satellite retrievals from the SSMI sensor on the F11 satellite processed with the GPROF algorithm.

Time Range

Monthly averages; specific temporal coverage is not detailed in the provided metadata.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 02:16:25.451898; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global coverage at a 0.25 degree x 0.25 degree grid resolution.