Tropical Cyclone Christine

Tropical cyclone Christine was in the South Indian Ocean close to the northwestern coast of Australia when the TRMM satellite passed over on December 30, 2013 at 1113 UTC. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and precipitation Radar (PR) instruments revealed that Christine had a well defined eye. TRMM PR found that the most intense rain was falling at a rate of over 70mm/hr (~2.8 inches) in intense bands well to the east of Christine's eye. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) instrument provided good coverage of Christine's eye while TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR) had a good look at Christine's

Faces of GPM: Engineers

Submitted by JacobAdmin on Fri, 12/27/2013
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An interview with Beth Weinstein, a GPM integration and test (I & T) engineer, Lisa Bartusek, GPM Deputy Mission Systems Engineer, and Carlton Peters, associate branch head at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the GPM thermal branch development lead.

Faces of GPM: Dr. Dalia Kirschbaum, GPM Applications Scientist

Submitted by JacobAdmin on Fri, 12/27/2013
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Dr. Kirschbaum discusses her role with GPM, how she became a scientist, and how remotely sensed satellite data can be used to study and evaluate natural hazards such as landslides.

This video is the first in a series called "Faces of GPM", which will interview several GPM team members to learn what it is like to be a NASA scientist or engineer.
 
 

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Faces of GPM: Professor Steve Nesbitt, GPM Ground Validation Scientist

Submitted by JacobAdmin on Fri, 12/27/2013
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Profile of Steve Nesbitt, a professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Illinois and a mission scientist on GPM ground validation field campaigns. Nesbitt uses the data collected to improve the representation of cloud microphysical processes using radars, aircraft probes, and surface instrumentation in satellite precipitation algorithms to improve global precipitation estimates.

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GPM Core Observatory Completes Comprehensive Performance Testing

The GPM spacecraft oriented for inspections after its arrival in the clean room at Tanegashima Space Center. Image Credit: NASA / Michael Starobin On Dec. 15, the Global Precipitation Measurement Core Observatory team completed the post-shipment Comprehensive Performance Test with no significant problems. The testing took seven days to run through each of the spacecraft's systems and subsystems to ensure that the satellite is ready for space. The testing took place at GPM's launch site at Tanegashima Space Center in Japan, and was the first time all systems had been turned on since GPM's

Intensifying Tropical Cyclone Bruce

A powerful tropical cyclone called Bruce formed quickly after tropical cyclone Amara in the south Indian Ocean. Intensifying Tropical cyclone Bruce had winds of over 90kts (~103.5 mph) When the TRMM satellite passed over head on December 19, 2013 at 1800 UTC. A rainfall analysis from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) instruments is shown on the left overlaid on an enhanced infrared image from TRMM's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS). Bruce was found to have a well defined eye with rain falling at a rate of over 115 mm/hr (~4.5 inches). TRMM PR sliced through the

TRMM Sees Tropical Cyclone Amara Forming

Yesterday Amara became the third tropical cyclone since October 2013 to form in the South Indian Ocean. TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data captured by the TRMM satellite on December 16, 2013 at 2043 UTC were used in the image on the upper left. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) instruments showed that Amara was getting organized with scattered bands of moderate to heavy rain spiraling into the tropical cyclone's center. TRMM PR located some strong radar reflectivity values of over 47.7 dBZ in rain falling at a rate of over 76.9 mm/hr (~3

GPM Begins Final Comprehensive Performance Test

The mechanical team has only a few inches of clearance between the L-frame and the satellite. Image Credit: NASA / Michael Starobin The Global Precipitation Measurement mission's Core Observatory began its final Comprehensive Performance Test at Tanegashima Space Center in Japan on Dec. 9, 2013. The test will run 24/7 over the next few weeks as every system and subsystem is turned on and run through its tasks. This is the first time all the Core Observatory systems have been powered on since its shipment to Japan. The results of the tests will be compared to pre-shipment performance test

TRMM Sees Powerful Storms In Tropical Cyclone Madi

The TRMM satellite flew over tropical cyclone Madi in the Bay Of Bengal on December 11, 2013 at 1034 UTC. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) instruments found that Madi contained powerful storms southeast of Madi'a center of circulation dropping rain at the rate of over 81 mm/hr (~3.2 inches). An analysis of Madi's 3-D vertical structure using TRMM PR found that tops of these convective towers were reaching extremely high altitudes greater than 19km(~11.8 miles). Tropical cyclone Madi is predicted by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) to weaken while moving over