TRMM

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

Tropical Cyclone Gillian's Remnants

Over the past few days former tropical cyclone GILLIAN's remnants moved from the Gulf Of Carpentaria into the Timor sea . The TRMM satellite found a few strong convective thunderstorms when it passed above these remnants on March 18, 2014 at 0431 UTC. TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR) instrument measured rain falling at a rate of over 86 mm/hr (~3.4 inches) in some intense storms. The simulated 3-D image above was made using TRMM PR data and shows that several of the tallest thunderstorms in GILLIAN's remnants were reaching heights of over 15.75 km (~9.8 miles). Radar reflectivity values of over

Tropical Cyclone Formation

The TRMM satellite flew above northern Australia on March 14, 2014 at 0500 UTC capturing data used in the image on the right. Very strong convective storms in this area are the remnants of tropical cyclone GILLIAN and may signal a rebirth. TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR) instrument found rain falling at the rate of over 116 mm/hr (~4.5 inches) in these powerful storms in the northeastern Gulf Of Carpentaria. TRMM PR data were also used in this 3-D view of the strong convective storms in the northern Gulf Of Carpentaria. Some towering convective storms were found to be very energetic. Several

Deadly Tropical Cyclone Lusi

Tropical cyclone LUSI recently caused the deaths of at least three people as it moved through the island nation of Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean. The TRMM satellite flew above tropical cyclone LUSI on March 12, 2014 at 0342 UTC. A rainfall analysis made from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data is shown overlaid on an enhanced visible/infrared image from TRMM's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS). TRMM PR data revealed with this analysis that rain was falling at a rate of over 97 mm/hr (~3.8 inches) in rain bands rotating around LUSI's center. TRMM's

High Level Of Tropical Cyclone Activity South Of The Equator

Tropical cylone activity has recently increased in the the Southern Hemisphere. On March 10, 2014 the TRMM satellite viewed three tropical storms within two hours. The images above use data received by the TRMM satellite when it flew above tropical storm HADI on March 10, 2014 at 0528 UTC. TRMM found that almost all heavy rainfall with HADI was located in the Coral Sea well off the northeastern coast of Australia. Data from TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR) instrument were used in the image on the right to show the 3-D structure within the tropical storm. Tropical storm LUSI was located near

TRMM Observes Storm Moving From California Eastward

Images are routinely produced using TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) data which show the global area covered by the satellite. These "Quick Look" images use Microwave brightness temperatures at 85.5 GHZ and at 37.0 GHZ combined in the red, green and blue components (guns) of the images. These false color images can be used to distinguish land from water and show the differences between land surfaces such as deserts, snow cover and sea ice. On these images areas of dry atmosphere over water appear as blue and moist atmosphere is dark blue. Snow cover over land appears as white or grey, deserts are

Tropical Storm Faxai

Tropical storm FAXAI meandered in a area southeast of Guam for the past few days and is now predicted to move toward the north passing well to the east of Guam. The TRMM satellite had a good daytime view of the tropical storm on March 2, 2247 UTC. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data revealed that FAXAI had heavy rain falling at a rate of over 89 mm/hr (~3.5 inches). A few rainshowers from FAXAI are shown affecting GUAM.

Tropical Storm Faxai Forms Southeast Of Guam

A tropical depression that developed southeast of Guam was upgraded to a tropical storm called FAXAI early Saturday morning (local time). The TRMM satellite has had several good looks of the tropical storm during it's formation. As it passed over head on February 27, 2014 at 2357 UTC the satellite had an outstanding daytime view of the developing tropical cyclone . Rainfall data collected by TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) instruments are shown overlaid on enhanced visible and infrared images from TRMM's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS). TRMM PR data indicated

TRMM Sees Tornadic Thunderstorms

The TRMM satellite passed above a line of severe thunderstorms over the eastern United States on February 21, 2014 at about 1148UTC (6:48 AM EST). Several reports of tornadoes in Illinois were associated with this system yesterday. A possible tornado was reported in Georgia this morning. The 3-D image below shows a TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR) slice through the line of severe thunderstorms. One tall thunderstorm in the Florida panhandle was shown reaching heights of about 13.8km (~8.5 miles) and returning Radar reflectivity values of over 58dBZ to the satellite. Rain was found by TRMM PR to

Tropical Cyclone Guito's Rainfall

The TRMM satellite had a look at tropical cyclone Guito in the Mozambique Channel on February 18, 2014 at 1525 UTC. This early evening view occurred only about three hours after Guito attained tropical storm intensity of 35kts (~40 mph). TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) had better coverage of Guito than the Precipitation Radar (PR) instrument whose swath was well to the south of the tropical cyclone's center of circulation. TRMM TMI revealed that Guito was producing rain at a rate of over 50mm/hr (~ 2 inches) in the center of the Mozambique Channel and scattered light rain on Madagascar's western

Precipitation Measured from U.S. Winter Storm

Freezing rain and snow from a winter storm have caused power outages and deaths from the southeastern to the northeastern United States. The TRMM-based, near-real time Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is used to estimate precipitation for much of the globe. TMPA (liquid) precipitation totals (mm) are shown for the week from February 7-14, 2014 when a winter storm was moving through the area. Snow depths can be expected to be 10 to 12 times that for the same amount of rainfall. Liquid precipitation estimates of over 110mm (~4.3 inches) are