A tropical low was affecting southern India and Sri Lanka on May 6, 2014 at 0809 UTC when the TRMM satellite flew above. The TRMM satellite was launched by NASA and JAXA in 1997 with the first earth orbiting active/passive instrument package to study the intensity and structure of tropical rainfall. The GPM satellite that was launched on February 27, 2014 will continue TRMM's highly successful mission of monitoring precipitation from space.

TRMM' Precipitation Radar (PR) data were used in this 3-D view (from the west) of rainfall structure within this area of disturbed tropical weather. TRMM PR revealed that rain was falling at a rate of 66 mm/hr ( about 2.6 inches) in the stormy area south of India (5.2N 77.1E). TRMM PR saw the tallest thunderstorm towers over Sri Lanka where heights were pushing to altitudes above 13 km (about 8 miles).

Images and Captions by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC)