GPM_2AGPROFF16SSMIS_CLIM: Climate-Referenced Satellite Precipitation Profiles

GPM_2AGPROFF16SSMIS_CLIM is a Version 07 climate-reference dataset from NASA's GES DISC. It provides precipitation profiles and related atmospheric fields derived from SSMIS radiometer data on the DMSP F16 satellite using a Bayesian retrieval algorithm (GPROF). The dataset uses homogeneous ECMWF-Interim reanalysis ancillary data to ensure consistency for climate time series analysis.

Use Cases

• Analyzing long-term precipitation trends based on climate-referenced satellite retrievals.
• Validating and calibrating atmospheric models using consistent, sensor-specific brightness temperature data.
• Studying the vertical structure of cloud and precipitation hydrometeors and their uncertainty.
• Investigating global 3-hour precipitation coverage achieved by the GPM constellation of sensors.

Strengths

• Uses a consistent Bayesian algorithm (GPROF) across multiple satellite sensors for parametric retrievals.
• Provides climate homogeneity by using ECMWF-Interim reanalysis as ancillary data over the time series.
• Version 07 is the current and supported version, superseding older releases.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and spatial/temporal extents are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Ancillary data from ECMWF-Interim has a 2-3 month lag behind regular production.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), GES DISC.

Collection Method

Derived from SSMIS radiometer brightness temperatures on the DMSP F16 satellite using the GPROF Bayesian retrieval algorithm.

Time Range

null

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03 13 02:14:52.308237.

Geography

Likely global coverage from satellite orbits.