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Content which is associated solely with the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission.

Typhoon Muifa To Affect Okinawa

TRMM image of typhoon Muifa
Typhoon Muifa had wind speeds of about 95 kts (~109 mph) when the TRMM satellite passed above on 3 August 2011 at 1307 UTC. Muifa is now predicted to pass just to the south of the Japanese Island of Okinawa. The southern tip of the Okinawa is expected to be in the right front quadrant of the typhoon on 5 August 2011 where the highest winds are normally located. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data were used in the rainfall analysis shown on the right. See earlier TRMM information about typhoon Muifa.

Tropical Storm Emily Viewed by TRMM

TRMM Image of Tropical Storm Emily
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced the formation of tropical storm Emily on 1 August 2011 at 2330 UTC (7:30 PM AST). The TRMM satellite flew over the storm a short time later on 2 August 2011 at 0137 UTC (9:37 PM AST). A rainfall analysis from TRMM's Microwave (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data is shown above. This analysis shows that relatively little rainfall was occurring near the storm's approximate center that is indicated by a red tropical storm symbol. Moderate rainfall was revealed in a large feeder band on the eastern side of the storm. Emily is predicted to move

Typhoon Muifa Heading Toward Okinawa

TRMM image of Muifa
MUIFA was a super typhoon with wind speeds of 140 kts (~161 mph) on 30 August but wind speeds had dropped to about 110 kts (~127 mph) when it was seen by the TRMM satellite on 1 August 2011 at 1320 UTC. This TRMM orbit revealed that MUIFA had a double eyewall indicating that the typhoon was undergoing eyewall replacement with a larger eyewall shown forming farther out from a smaller inner eyewall. Muifa is expected to still be a powerful typhoon on 4 August 2011 as it passes directly over the Japanese island of Okinawa.

TRMM Looks At Potential Atlantic Storm

TRMM image of storm in the Atlantic
On 1 August 2011 at 0056 UTC the TRMM satellite traveled above an area of low pressure east of the Lesser Antilles that the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has assigned a high probability (90%) of becoming an Atlantic tropical cyclone within the next few days. TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR) saw a few tall convective thunderstorm towers within this area (see below image).

TRMM Ground Validation

GPM flying over Earth with a data swath visualized.
Monday, August 1, 2011
A key component of the TRMM project is the Ground Validation (GV) effort which consists of collecting data from ground-based radar, rain gauges and disdrometers. The data is quality-controlled, and then validation products are produced for comparison with TRMM satellite products. The four primary GV sites are Darwin, Australia; Houston, Texas; Kwajalein, Republic of the Marshall Islands; and, Melbourne, Florida. A significant effort is also being supported at NASA Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) and vicinity to provide high quality, long-term measurements of rain rates (via a network of rain...
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TRMM Sees Don At Daybreak

TRMM image of Don
The TRMM satellite again viewed tropical storm DON on 29 July 2011 at 1322 UTC (7:22 AM CDT). A rainfall analysis from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) was overlaid on a sunlit combination visible/infrared image from TRMM's Visible and Infrared Scanner (VIRS) instrument. Below is an animation that fades between the sunlit visible/infrared image and the PR/TMI rainfall analysis.

Tropical Storm Don Approaching Texas

TRMM image of Don
The TRMM satellite passed over tropical storm DON on 29 July 2011 at 0650 UTC (1:50 AM CDT) while the storm was in the Gulf Of Mexico. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) data were used in the image on the right to show rainfall overlaid on an infrared image from TRMM's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS) instrument. This image shows that DON had become larger and better organized since last seen by TRMM. Also the area of rainfall was larger with some moderate to heavy rainfall located near the storm's center. Texas has been suffering from extreme drought this year so DON's rainfall may provide some

Tropical Storm Don Forms In The Gulf Of Mexico

TRMM image of Tropical Storm Don
An area of disturbed weather in the southern Gulf Of Mexico was upgraded by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to tropical storm DON on 27 July 2011 at 2100 UTC (4 PM CDT). The TRMM satellite had a fairly good view of tropical Storm DON when it passed over on 28 July 2011 at 0609 UTC (2:09 AM EDT). A red tropical storm symbol shows the position, north of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, where DON was located at that time. A rainfall analysis from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) data shows that DON was dropping moderate to heavy rainfall in the eastern side of the small storm. The NHC predicts that
Tropical Wave (90L) Forming in the Caribbean
TRMM Radar image of tropical wave 90L
JacobAdmin Wed, 07/27/2011
On 26 July at 1435 UTC (10:35 AM EDT) the TRMM satellite passed above a tropical wave in the Caribbean Sea southwest of Cuba. On 27 July this area was given a high (80%) probability of development into a tropical cyclone by the National Hurricane Center (NHC). TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR) data indicates that a convective tower within this area of disturbed weather reached to heights of over 15 km (~9.3 miles).
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