TRMM CSH V6: Global Monthly Latent Heating Profiles

Global 0.5 x 0.5 degree monthly latent heating profiles are derived from surface convective and stratiform rain rates using the Goddard Convective-Stratiform Heating (CSH) algorithm. This dataset is a discontinued product from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) version '6' suite and is now in permanent preservation. Users are directed to newer, cross-calibrated products from the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission for current research.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the global distribution of convective and stratiform heating based on surface rain rate inputs.
• Studying long-term trends in atmospheric heat budgets using monthly, gridded latent heating profiles.
• Validating or comparing newer GPM-era latent heating products against this foundational TRMM algorithm output.

Strengths

• Provides a foundational, long-term global record from a major NASA satellite mission (TRMM).
• Offers a specific 0.5 x 0.5 degree spatial resolution for monthly data.
• Is hosted on multiple authoritative platforms (Data.gov, NASA Earthdata), indicating recognized importance.

Limitations

• The dataset is explicitly discontinued and superseded by newer GPM products, which are recommended for use.
• Critical metadata is missing or conflicting: last update dates conflict between 2011 and 2026, and column details are unknown.
• The license is ambiguously listed as 'other-license-specified' without clear terms for reuse.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Goddard Space Flight Center

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing data processed by the Goddard Convective-Stratiform Heating (CSH) algorithm.

Freshness

2026-04-09 21:40:32.800275 (from Data.gov, though this may be a metadata update; the data itself is from the discontinued TRMM V6 suite)

Geography

Global