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GCPEX Science Plan

Document Description

During the GPM pre-launch period physically-based snowfall retrieval algorithms are in an active phase of development. Further refinement and testing of these emerging algorithms requires the collection of targeted ground-validation datasets in snowing environments. This document describes a field campaign effort designed to provide both new datasets and physical insights related to the snowfall process- especially as they relate to the incorporation of appropriate physics into GPM snowfall retrieval algorithms.

Tropical Storm Emily Viewed by TRMM

TRMM Image of Tropical Storm Emily
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced the formation of tropical storm Emily on 1 August 2011 at 2330 UTC (7:30 PM AST). The TRMM satellite flew over the storm a short time later on 2 August 2011 at 0137 UTC (9:37 PM AST). A rainfall analysis from TRMM's Microwave (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data is shown above. This analysis shows that relatively little rainfall was occurring near the storm's approximate center that is indicated by a red tropical storm symbol. Moderate rainfall was revealed in a large feeder band on the eastern side of the storm. Emily is predicted to move

Typhoon Muifa Heading Toward Okinawa

TRMM image of Muifa
MUIFA was a super typhoon with wind speeds of 140 kts (~161 mph) on 30 August but wind speeds had dropped to about 110 kts (~127 mph) when it was seen by the TRMM satellite on 1 August 2011 at 1320 UTC. This TRMM orbit revealed that MUIFA had a double eyewall indicating that the typhoon was undergoing eyewall replacement with a larger eyewall shown forming farther out from a smaller inner eyewall. Muifa is expected to still be a powerful typhoon on 4 August 2011 as it passes directly over the Japanese island of Okinawa.
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