GPM SSMIS: Satellite Precipitation Profiles from Passive Microwave Sensors

Version 07 is the current version of this global precipitation dataset produced by NASA's GPM mission. The data is generated by the Goddard Profiling (2AGPROF) algorithm, which retrieves precipitation and related fields from a constellation of passive microwave sensors including GMI, SSMIS, and AMSR2. It provides near-real-time, standard, and climate products, differing in latency and ancillary data used, with the main strength being large spatial and temporal sampling.

Use Cases

• Validate and calibrate global climate models based on retrieved precipitation profiles.
• Study the vertical structure of cloud and precipitation hydrometeors based on the Bayesian retrieval method.
• Analyze long-term precipitation trends using the climate product version which uses ECMWF reanalysis for consistency.
• Assimilate near-real-time precipitation data into weather forecasting models based on the NRT product using GANAL forecast fields.

Strengths

• Provides consistent precipitation retrieval across multiple satellite sensors (GMI, SSMIS, AMSR2, etc.) using a unified Bayesian algorithm.
• Offers three processing levels (near-real-time, standard, climate) to suit different latency and consistency needs.
• The algorithm provides a mean rain rate as well as the vertical structure of cloud and precipitation hydrometeors and their uncertainty.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Data retrieved via the Goddard Profiling (2AGPROF) algorithm from passive microwave sensors on the GPM constellation and partner satellites.

Time Range

Provides the bulk of 3-hour coverage achieved by GPM, with products available within 3 hours (NRT), 48 hours (standard), and 3 months (climate) of collection.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 01:55:03.191255; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global coverage from satellite constellation.