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NPOL Ground Validation Instrument

The NPOL instrument, a large circular radar dish under a blue sky
Image Caption
The NASA NPOL radar is a research grade S-band, scanning dual-polarimetric radar.

The NPOL underwent a complete antenna system upgrade in 2010 and is one of two fully transportable research-grade S-band systems in the world.  It is used to make accurate volumetric measurements of precipitation including rainfall rate, particle size distributions, water contents and precipitation type.

TRMM Sees Powerful Typhoon MA-ON

TRMM image of MA-ON
The TRMM satellite passed almost directly above powerful typhoon MA-ON on 14 July 2011 at 0525 UTC. This TRMM orbit revealed that MA-ON was extremely well organized with several bands of intense thunderstorms around a well defined eye. This rainfall analysis, using data from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR), shows that the heaviest rainfall of over 50 mm/hr (~ 2 inches) was located in the southwestern quadrant of MA-ON's eye wall. MA-ON is predicted to become an even more dangerous super typhoon with wind speeds of 135 kts (155 mph) on 17 July 2011 while approaching

Tropical Storm 08W Becomes Stronger

TRMM image of tropical storm 08W
Tropical storm MA-ON (08W), that developed east of the Marianas in the northern Pacific Ocean yesterday, has continued to become more powerful. MA-ON had wind speeds of about 35 kts (~40 mph) when the TRMM satellite saw the storm on 12 July 2011 at 0640 UTC and is predicted to gradually strengthen over the next five days. MA-ON is then expected to be a powerful typhoon with wind speeds of 95 kts (~109 mph) and be located in the open waters of the Pacific Ocean south of Japan. TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data were used in the rainfall analysis being drawn on the

Core Observatory Passes Centrifuge Stress Testing

The GPM Core Observatory structure successfully completed proof testing in the centrifuge facility at Goddard Space Flight Center. The satellite was tested at several different angles to simulate the increased feeling of gravity’s pull on the satellite during launch. Goddard's centrifuge can accelerate 2.5 tons to speeds so high that the payload experiences forces 30 times greater than the pull of Earth's gravity. The GPM Core Observatory undergoing centrifuge testing at Goddard Space Flight Center.
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