TRMM and Other Sources Rainfall Product (TRMM Product 3B43)

Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Spatial_Reference_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Project (TRMM)

Publication_Date: Unknown

Title: TRMM and Other Sources Rainfall Product (TRMM Product 3B43)

Edition: 7

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form:

Series_Information:

Series_Name:

Issue_Identification:

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place:

Publisher:

Other_Citation_Details:

Online_Linkage: http://mirador.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/mirador/presentNavigation.pl?tree=project&project=TRMM&dataGroup=Gridded&dataset=3B43:%20Monthly%200.25%20x%200.25%20degree%20merged%20TRMM%20and%20other%20sources%20estimates&version=007

Description:

Abstract:

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) is a joint U.S.-Japan satellite mission to monitor tropical and subtropical precipitation and to estimate its associated latent heating. TRMM was successfully launched on November 27, at 4:27 PM (EST) from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. The rainfall measuring instruments on the TRMM satellite include the Precipitation Radar (PR), an electronically scanning radar operating at 13.8 GHz; TRMM Microwave Image (TMI), a nine-channel passive microwave radiometer; and Visible and Infrared Scanner (VIRS), a five-channel visible/infrared radiometer. The purpose of 3B43 algorithm is to produce the best-estimate precipitation rate (in mm/hr) and root-mean-square (RMS) precipitation-error estimates from TRMM and other data sources. The algorithm combines multiple independent precipitation estimates from the TMI, Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for Earth Observing Systems (AMSR-E), Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSMI), Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMIS), Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU), Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS), microwave-adjusted merged geo-infrared (IR), and monthly accumulated Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC) rain gauge analysis. All input microwave data are intercalibrated to TRMM Combined Instrument (TCI) precipitation estimates (TRMM product 3B31); the iIR estimates are computed using monthly matched microwave-IR histogram matching; then missing data in individual 3-hourly merged-microwave fields are filled with the IR estimates. After the preprocessing is complete, the 3-hourly multi-satellite fields are summed for the month and combined with the monthly gauge analysis using inverse-error-variance weighting to form the best-estimate precipitation rate and RMS precipitation-error estimates. These gridded estimates have a calendar month temporal resolution and a 0.25-degree by 0.25-degree spatial resolution. Spatial coverage extends from 50 degrees south to 50 degrees north latitude. The data are stored in the Hierarchical Data Format (HDF), which includes both core and product specific metadata. The file size is about 5 MB. Important Changes: After the initial Version 7 processing, it was discovered that AMSU data were neglected in the first retrospective processing of both the Version 7 TMPA (3B42/43) and TMPA-RT (3B40/41/42RT) data series, which created an important shortcoming in the inventory of microwave precipitation estimates used during 2000-2010. In addition, a coding error in the TMPA-RT replaced the occasional missings in product 3B42RT with zeros. Accordingly, both product series were retrospectively processed again. The main impact in both series was to improve the fine-scale patterns of precipitation during 2000-2010 (and for 3B4xRT into late 2012). Averages over progressively larger time/space scales should be progressively less affected. [This is the reason the lack of AMSU went undiscovered; the merger system copes very reasonably with missing data.] Nonetheless, users are urged to switch to the newest Version 7 data sets. The newest runs may be identified by the file names: V.7 3B42/43 suffix of "7A.HDF" for January 2000 - September 2010; V.7 3B4xRT suffix of "7R2.bin" for 1 March 2000 - 6 November 2012. It continues to be the case that the Version 7 3B42/43 is some 4% higher than the calibrating data set (2B31) over oceans, which is still under study. However, the initial conclusion is that it results from the sampling mismatch between the (very sparse) TCI and the (much denser) microwave constellation. At the large scales this offset seems to be nearly a proportional constant. TRMM Product FAQ: http://disc.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/additional/faq/precipitation_faq.shtml Sign up to receive announcements on the latest data information, tools and services that become available, data announcements from PPS and more! Contact the GES DISC User Services (gsfc-help-disc@lists.nasa.gov) to be added to the list.

Purpose:

Not Available

Supplemental_Information:

REFERENCE: Product Readme: ftp://meso-a.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/trmmdocs/3B42_3B43_doc.pdf File Specifications for TRMM Products: ftp://pps.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/v7filespec/filespec.TRMM.V7.pdf Metadata for TRMM Products: ftp://pps.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/v7filespec/filespecMeta.TRMM.V7.pdf TRMM V6 vs. V7 Major Data Format Changes: http://pps.gsfc.nasa.gov/Documents/formatChangesV7.pdf Huffman, G.J., 1997: "Estimates of Root-Mean-Square Random Error for Finite Samples of Estimated Precipitation," J. Appl. Meteor., 1191-1201. Huffman, G.J., R.F. Adler, P. Arkin, A. Chang, R. Ferraro, A. Gruber, J. Janowiak, A. McNab, B. Rudolph, and U. Schneider, 1997: "The Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) Combined Precipitation Dataset," Bul. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 78, 5-20. Huffman, G.J., R.F. Adler, B. Rudolph, U. Schneider, and P. Keehn, 1995: "Global Precipitation Estimates Based on a Technique for Combining Satellite-Based Estimates, Rain Gauge Analysis, and NWP Model Precipitation Information," J. Clim., 8, 1284-1295.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 19980101

Ending_Date: Unknown

Currentness_Reference:Unknown

Status:

Progress: In Work

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -180.0

East_Bounding_Coordinate: 180.0

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 50.0

South_Bounding_Coordinate: -50.0

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: GCMD SCIENCE PARAMETERS

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: GCMD PLATFORM

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: GCMD INSTRUMENT

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: PROJECT

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ANCILLARY KEYWORDS

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO TOPIC CATEGORY

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: DATA SET LANGUAGE

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > PRECIPITATION > PRECIPITATION RATE

Theme_Keyword: TRMM > TROPICAL RAINFALL MEASURING MISSION

Theme_Keyword: RAIN GAUGES

Theme_Keyword: PR > TRMM PRECIPITATION RADAR

Theme_Keyword: TMI > TRMM MICROWAVE IMAGER

Theme_Keyword: VIRS > TRMM VISIBLE INFRARED SCANNER

Theme_Keyword: EOS > EARTH OBSERVING SYSTEM

Theme_Keyword: EOSDIS > EARTH OBSERVING SYSTEM DATA INFORMATION SYSTEM

Theme_Keyword: GPCP > GLOBAL PRECIPITATION CLIMATOLOGY PROJECT

Theme_Keyword: ESIP > EARTH SCIENCE INFORMATION PARTNERS PROGRAM

Theme_Keyword: TRMM > TROPICAL RAINFALL MEASURING MISSION PROJECT

Theme_Keyword: Eosdis

Theme_Keyword: CLIMATOLOGY/METEOROLOGY/ATMOSPHERE

Theme_Keyword: ENGLISH

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: GCMD

Place_Keyword: GEOGRAPHIC REGION > TROPICS

Temporal:

Temporal_Keyword_Thesaurus: GCMD

Temporal_Keyword: Monthly

Temporal_Keyword: Monthly - < Annual

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints:

Not Available

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: HYDROLOGY DATA SUPPORT TEAM

Contact_Position: TECHNICAL CONTACT

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: Hydrology Data Support Team, Code 610.2

Address: Goddard Space Flight Center

City: Greenbelt

State_or_Province: MD

Postal_Code: 20771

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (301) 614-5165

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (301) 614-5268

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gsfc-help-disc@lists.nasa.gov

Browse_Graphic:

Browse_Graphic_File_Name: ftp://disc3.nascom.nasa.gov/data/browse/whom/01_Data_Products/02_Gridded/07_Monthly_Other_Data_Source_3B_43/sample.gif

Browse_Graphic_File_Description:

Sample image of the TRMM 3B43 and others combined surface rainfall

Browse_Graphic_File_Type:

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

Satellite/gauge relative error estimates are provided for each 0.25 x 0.25 degree box. The estimates are derived in two steps: (1) the error estimates of each input data are computed separately, mostly reflecting the sampling-induced uncertainty of each field and (2) a linear combination of these field errors is computed, in which each field error estimate is weighted by the inverse of its error-variance. There are currently no known deficiencies in the 3B43 algorithm. The quality of the 3B43 product is highly sensitive to the quality of the input data: TRMM adjusted merged-IR (product 3B42) and monthly accumulated TMI/TRMM Combined Instrument (TCI, product 2A12/3B31). If the quality of the input data is less than anticipated, then the quality of 3B43 will also be less.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Not Available

Completeness_Report:

Not Available

Lineage:

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Not Available

Process_Date: Unknown

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Geographic:

Latitude_Resolution: 0.25 degree

Longitude_Resolution: 0.25 degree

Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees

Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Altitude_System_Definition:

Altitude_Datum_Name: Not Available

Altitude_Resolution: Surface

Altitude_Distance_Units: Not Available

Altitude_Encoding_Method: Implicit coordinate

Depth_System_Definition:

Depth_Datum_Name: Not Available

Depth_Resolution: Surface

Depth_Distance_Units: Not Available

Depth_Encoding_Method: Implicit coordinate

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/GCDC/GESDISC > Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (formerly Goddard DAAC), Global Change Data Center, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA

Contact_Person: GES DISC HELP DESK SUPPORT GROUP

Contact_Position: DATA CENTER CONTACT

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center

Address: Code 610.2

Address: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

City: Greenbelt

State_or_Province: MD

Postal_Code: 20771

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 301-614-5224

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 301-614-5268

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gsfc-help-disc@lists.nasa.gov

Resource_Description: GES_DISC_TRMM_3B43_V7

Distribution_Liability:

Not Available

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: HDF

Transfer_Size: increasing daily

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

http://disc.gsfc.nasa.gov/

Access_Instructions:

DATA CENTER URL

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

http://mirador.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/mirador/prese...

Access_Instructions:

Data access URL for TRMM product 3B43

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

http://disc2.nascom.nasa.gov/opendap/TRMM_L3/TRMM_...

Access_Instructions:

OPeNDAP Earth Science Data TRMM 3B43.

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

http://mirador.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/mirador/homep...

Access_Instructions:

The Mirador Earth Science Data Search Tool includes TRMM 3B43, TRMM Best-estimate precipitation rate (mm/hr) and root-mean-square (RMS) precipitation-error estimates. Mirador features include location and event gazetteers.

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

http://reverb.echo.nasa.gov/reverb/#utf8=%E2%9C%93...

Access_Instructions:

Refine your granule search with ECHO's next generation Earth Science discovery tool (Reverb) using information from this record.

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

http://gcmd.nasa.gov/getserf.htm?TOVAS

Access_Instructions:

This interface is designed for quick analyses of the TRMM Level-3 monthly rainfall product, 3B43. Users can plot area averages (area plot) and time series (time plot) for selected areas and time periods.

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

http://gcmd.nasa.gov/getserf.htm?TRMM_inter-comp

Access_Instructions:

This tool is online inter-comparison of monthly TRMM and other global gridded precipitation products.

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

http://idn.ceos.org/climdiag/Metadata.do?Portal=cl...

Access_Instructions:

TRMM RAINFALL CLIMATOLOGY FROM 1998 to 2008 averaging all available Monthly 0.25 x 0.25 degree 3B43 data set.

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

http://disc.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/precipitation/docume...

Access_Instructions:

Readme file for TRMM product 3B43

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

http://disc.gsfc.nasa.gov/precipitation/index.shtm...

Access_Instructions:

This URL contains information and data access for all of the Goddard DAAC's hydrology data holdings, including TRMM data from the TMI, Precipitation Radar (PR) and Visible and Infrared Scanner (VIRS) instruments, the Ground Validation (GV) radar data, and ancillary and correlative data products.

Fees: None

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20110719

Metadata_Review_Date: 20130514

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: HYDROLOGY DATA SUPPORT TEAM

Contact_Position: DIF AUTHOR

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: Hydrology Data Support Team, Code 610.2

Address: Goddard Space Flight Center

City: Greenbelt

State_or_Province: MD

Postal_Code: 20771

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (301) 614-5165

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (301) 614-5268

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gsfc-help-disc@lists.nasa.gov

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

Metadata_Time_Convention: local time