Articles

Top 5 GPM Research Highlights

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

GPM celebrates its fifth anniversary since launching from Tanegashima Island, Japan on February 27, 2014. This milestone not only marks the launch but also the many scientific research accomplishments that GPM has made in advancing our understanding of precipitation, from light rain to intense thunderstorms, to further our understanding of the water cycle. Here are five of GPM’s most significant research accomplishments and their contributions to weather and climate science in its first five years in space: Snowfall and Cold Season Precipitation An image of GPM’s DPR concept of dual-frequency...

Friday, February 8, 2019

Using GPM Data for Weather, Climate, and Land Surface Modeling Variations in rain, snow, and other forms of precipitation are an integral part in everyday weather and long term climate trends. Initialization of short-term weather and long-term climate models with accurate precipitation information enhances their prediction skills and extends their skillful lead times. To get the resolution and temporal coverage to measure precipitation across the globe, we often rely on satellite information. Satellite data can play a fundamental role in our ability to monitor and predict weather systems as

Thursday, February 7, 2019

Growing human population, increased demand for water and energy, and a changing climate have contributed to concerns of how freshwater resources and food supply and production may be stressed. Both water resource managers and the agricultural community need to know the amount, distribution, timing and onset of seasonal rain and snow to prepare for freshwater shortages and forecast crop yields. Remotely sensed precipitation estimates play a key role in predicting changes in freshwater supply and agricultural forecasting. Specifically, GPM provides advance precipitation measurements on regional

Thursday, February 7, 2019

In many areas, energy infrastructure assets, such as power plants and electric grids, can suffer damage or disruption in service due to a variety of climate-related impacts like extreme precipitation, high temperatures, drought, and rising sea levels. For example, warmer temperatures and little rainfall can cause changes in peak streamflow conditions that affect hydropower generation. Heavy precipitation events and flooding can impact a region’s energy infrastructure, including electric grid equipment, which has cascading effects on freshwater supplies and emergency services. The Energy

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

The impacts of climate change are already having a profound effect on ecosystems. Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns affect species and communities in diverse ways, such as declines in species and species diversity, changing interactions between species, and modification of ecosystems. Effective ecosystem management is critical to maintaining and repairing the natural environments in order to reliably support human needs while conserving and sustaining ecological services and diversity. Satellite observations can provide critical information relevant to the distribution of

Top 5 GPM Research Highlights

Using GPM Data for Weather, Climate, and Land Surface Modeling

Using GPM Data for Water Resources, Agricultural Forecasting & Food Security

Using GPM Data for Energy Infrastructure and Management

Using GPM Data for Ecological Management