PPS Near Real-time

How to Access Near-Realtime GPM / TRMM Data from the PPS

Due to NASA network policies the NASA Precipitation Processing System (PPS) will be transitioning from FTP to FTPS for access to download GPM and TRMM data. As a result of this change, users may need to update the methods they use to download data.

1. Register for the PPS 

   • IMPORTANT: Visit this URL to register or update your email and info: http://registration.pps.eosdis.nasa.gov/registration/
   • Use of the PPS FTP to download GPM and TRMM data is free, but you are required to first register your email address. This allows the PPS to track usage statistics and send useful messages about the satellite and data availability. Once you have registered and verified your email address, return to this page to continue to the FTP to download data. 
   • If you need access to the near-realtime (NRT) GPM files on https://jsimpsonhttps.pps.eosdis.nasa.gov, please be sure to check the box labelled "Near-Realtime Products". Otherwise you will be unable to log in to the NRT server.
   • Once registered, your email address will serve as both your username AND password for logging into the FTP site. Email addresses are converted to lower case when registering, so please enter your username and password in lowercase as well.

2. Accessing Near-Realtime GPM / TRMM Data Using HTTPS (web browser)

   • Visit: https://jsimpsonhttps.pps.eosdis.nasa.gov/
   • Enter your registered email address as both the username and password.
   • Read this document to learn about the directory structure and files contained within the Jsimpson Near-Realtime data server: https://jsimpsonhttps.pps.eosdis.nasa.gov/documentation/nrtInstructions.pdf

3. Advanced Users: Accessing Near-Realtime GPM / TRMM Data With an Automated Script (e.g. wget)

   • A listing of every data file on the server in text format is available at: https://jsimpsonhttps.pps.eosdis.nasa.gov/text/
   • You can crawl this "/text" directory to determine the file names and locations for download. For example: https://jsimpsonhttps.pps.eosdis.nasa.gov/text/imerg/early/202001/ lists the relative download location of all IMERG Early Run files from January 2020.

4. Advanced Users: Accessing Near-Realtime GPM / TRMM Data With FTPS

   • Due to NASA network policies the NASA Precipitation Processing System (PPS) has transitioned from FTP to FTPS for access to download GPM and TRMM data. Due to these changes users will no longer be able to access the PPS FTPS servers using a web browser, so users that prefer FTP to the above methods must now use either the command line or dedicated file transfer software.
   • One piece of software that can be used to connect to the new FTPS servers is Filezilla, which is free and open source, and is available on Mac, Windows, and Linux operative systems. Filezilla can be downloaded here: https://filezilla-project.org/
   • NASA does not explicitly endorse the use of any particular piece of software and cannot provide detailed technical support for this software, but these instructions are provided in case they are useful to the end user. 
   • 
   • Open Filezilla
   • Go to "File" -> "Site Manager"
   • Click on "New Site" to set up a new connection to the PPS FTP server.
   • In the text box enter the name you would like to call this saved connection (i.e. "Jsimpson FTPS")
   • Leave "Protocol" set to the default ("FTP - File Transfer Protocol")
   • In "Host", enter "jsimpsonftps.pps.eosdis.nasa.gov"
   • Leave "Port" set to blank
   • In "Encryption" set to "Use explicit TLS over FTP if available"
   • Leave "Logon Type" set to "Normal"
   • In both the "User" and "Password" fields, enter the email address that you have registered with the PPS. If you have not yet registered with the PPS, please do so here: https://registration.pps.eosdis.nasa.gov/registration/
   • Click "Connect" to connect to the server. You can then use this bookmark you have created in future sessions by going to "Site Manager", clicking on the site, and clicking "Connect"