TRMM_3B42_Daily: Global Daily Precipitation from Satellite Analysis

NASA's TRMM_3B42_Daily dataset provides daily accumulated precipitation estimates derived from the research-quality 3-hourly TRMM Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA). This value-added product is generated by summing valid satellite retrievals over a 24-hour period on a 0.25-degree global grid, with results provided in millimeters. The dataset includes a count of valid retrievals per grid cell, enabling the computation of conditional means for areas with incomplete daily coverage.

Use Cases

• Analyzing daily precipitation trends and anomalies based on the 0.25-degree gridded data.
• Validating hydrological or climate models using the satellite-derived global precipitation estimates.
• Studying the spatial distribution of rainfall in data-sparse regions, supported by the valid retrieval counts.
• Conducting climatological research on a discontinued but historically significant satellite precipitation record.

Strengths

• Derived from the research-quality TRMM Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis (3B42), a well-established source.
• Includes a count of valid retrievals per grid cell, allowing for quality-aware analysis of mean precipitation.
• Provides global coverage at a 0.25-degree spatial resolution.

Limitations

• Dataset was officially discontinued as of December 31, 2019, limiting its use for current analysis.
• Platform metadata conflicts on the last updated date (2019-12-31 vs. 2026-04-09).
• Specific temporal coverage and total row/grid cell counts are not provided in the available metadata.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC).

Collection Method

Derived via summation of valid retrievals from the 3-hourly TRMM Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA/3B42).

Freshness

Data production ended on 2019-12-31. Metadata shows conflicting last-updated timestamps.

Geography

Global