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

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

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

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