TRMM_1B11: TRMM Microwave Imager Calibrated Radiances

TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) Level 1B data provides calibrated brightness temperatures from five microwave channels (10, 19, 22, 37, and 85 GHz) with varying spatial sampling. The satellite's orbital boost on 24 August 2001 altered its swath width from 760 km to 878 km and its horizontal resolution from 4.4 km to 5.1 km. This dataset is the predecessor to the GPM_1BTMI product and is formatted for consistency with the Global Precipitation Measurement mission's data standards.

Use Cases

• Calibrating precipitation retrieval algorithms using multi-channel brightness temperatures.
• Analyzing changes in sensor resolution and swath due to the documented TRMM orbital boost event.
• Performing inter-satellite comparison by aligning this TMI data with the newer GPM_1BTMI format.
• Studying microwave emission from Earth's surface and atmosphere for geophysical parameter estimation.

Strengths

• Provides specific pre- and post-boost instrument characteristics: swath width (760 km vs. 878 km) and horizontal resolution (4.4 km vs. 5.1 km).
• Describes detailed sampling methodology: four samples per pixel at 10 GHz, two at 19/22/37 GHz, and one at 85 GHz.
• Cross-platform presence on NASA Earthdata and Data.gov signals its importance and archival stability.

Limitations

• Column names and dataset size/row counts are not provided in any source, hindering precise structural understanding.
• Sources conflict on the 'last updated' date (2015 vs. 2026), creating uncertainty about metadata freshness.
• The calibration applies cross-polarization and spill-over corrections but lacks antenna beam pattern correction, which may introduce systematic errors for some applications.

Provenance

Source

GES DISC (Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center)

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing from the TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) spacecraft.

Time Range

Coverage spans from before 7 August 2001 to after 24 August 2001, with specific pre- and post-boost periods defined.

Freshness

2026-04-09 21:27:46.375220

Geography

Global coverage within the TRMM satellite's orbital swath, focused on tropical and subtropical regions.