Articles

NASA’s Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) algorithm combines information from the GPM satellite constellation to estimate precipitation over the majority of the Earth's surface. IMERG is particularly valuable over areas of Earth's surface that lack ground-based precipitation-measuring instruments, including oceans and remote areas. IMERG fuses precipitation estimates collected during the TRMM satellite’s operation (2000 - 2015) with recent precipitation estimates collected by the GPM mission (2014 - present) creating a continuous precipitation dataset spanning over two decades. This extended record enables scientists to compare past and present precipitation trends, enabling more accurate climate and weather models and a better understanding of Earth’s water cycle and rainfall and snowfall patterns. IMERG also enables a wide range of applications to help communities around the world make informed decisions for disasters, disease, resource management, energy production, food security, and more.

Landslides are a widespread and often underestimated natural hazard, causing thousands of deaths and significant economic damage each year. They routinely block roads, destroy infrastructure, and disrupt communities. Intense or prolonged rainfall is the most common landslide trigger, but earthquakes and human activities can also cause them. Using satellite data, models, and citizen science reports, NASA researchers have developed a collection of tools and datasets to improve our understanding of landslides and help communities around the world monitor, predict, and respond to these destructive events.