TRMM_3A25: Monthly Satellite Radar Rainfall Statistics

Global monthly statistics from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar are provided at two spatial resolutions. The dataset includes mean, standard deviation, and histogram data for variables like rain rate, reflectivity, and storm height. It is a legacy product, with a newer version available under the name GPM_3PR.

Use Cases

• Analyzing global precipitation climatology based on monthly rain rate statistics.
• Validating weather models using gridded radar reflectivity and storm height data.
• Studiating the vertical structure of storms using histograms of bright-band and snow-ice layer height.
• Assessing radar signal attenuation for algorithm correction using path-integrated attenuation (PIA) data.

Strengths

• Provides data at two specific spatial resolutions: a low 5x5 degree grid and a high 0.5x0.5 degree grid.
• Contains multiple derived statistical products, including means, standard deviations, histograms, and correlation coefficients for over ten atmospheric variables.
• Produced by the authoritative National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Limitations

• Metadata is incomplete: column names, row counts, and file sizes are unknown across all sources.
• Conflicting freshness: one source lists a last update in 2026 (likely a placeholder), while another lists 2015, indicating potentially stale data.
• The dataset is a legacy product, as the description explicitly states a newer version (GPM_3PR) exists.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing from the TRMM Precipitation Radar.

Time Range

Monthly statistics, specific date range not provided.

Freshness

2026-04-09 21:27:25.702896

Geography

Global