TRMM_3B42RT: Near Real-Time Satellite Precipitation Grids

TRMM Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) Near Real-Time (3B42RT) data provides global precipitation estimates at a 0.25-degree spatial resolution every three hours. Each file represents a three-hour period centered on its nominal time, with a latency of about seven hours from observation. The dataset is discontinued as of December 31, 2019, and successor IMERG products are recommended.

Use Cases

• Flood forecasting based on three-hourly global precipitation grids.
• Monitoring extreme weather events using near-real-time satellite estimates.
• Comparing research-grade precipitation products with rapid operational data.
• Analyzing precipitation patterns within the 50-degree N-S latitude band.
• Previewing data without download using CF-1.6 compliant netCDF-4 files.

Strengths

• Provides precipitation estimates with a latency of about seven hours.
• Data is formatted into machine-independent, self-explanatory CF-1.6 compliant netCDF-4 files.
• Available at a 0.25-degree spatial resolution.

Limitations

• Dataset is discontinued, with successor products explicitly recommended.
• Estimates outside the 50-degree N-S latitude band are considered highly experimental.
• Reduced quality compared to research-grade products due to the near-real-time processing.

Provenance

Source

GES DISC / Precipitation Processing System (PPS)

Collection Method

Output from the TRMM Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) Near Real-Time (RT) processing stream.

Freshness

2026-04-09 21:40:23.462129

Geography

Global, with experimental quality outside 50 degrees North-South.