The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission for Science and Society

TLDR

Precipitation is a vital freshwater source, and observing its global patterns and intensity is essential for science, society, and climate understanding. In 2014 NASA and JAXA launched the GPM Core Observatory, equipped with a dual‑frequency radar and multifrequency passive microwave radiometer to measure rain rates from 0.2 to 110 mm h⁻¹ and moderate‑intensity snow, and it serves as a reference for merging data from partner satellites to deliver high‑resolution global precipitation estimates. GPM’s enhanced rain and snow measurements yield detailed precipitation structure, track tropical cyclones into midlatitudes, support near‑real‑time flood, landslide, and drought hazard assessment, improve weather and climate models, and inform agriculture, famine, and public health, while its teams continuously calibrate instruments, refine retrieval algorithms, expand science investigations, and disseminate data.

Abstract

Abstract Precipitation is a key source of freshwater; therefore, observing global patterns of precipitation and its intensity is important for science, society, and understanding our planet in a changing climate. In 2014, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory (CO) spacecraft. The GPM CO carries the most advanced precipitation sensors currently in space including a dual-frequency precipitation radar provided by JAXA for measuring the three-dimensional structures of precipitation and a well-calibrated, multifrequency passive microwave radiometer that provides wide-swath precipitation data. The GPM CO was designed to measure rain rates from 0.2 to 110.0 mm h−1 and to detect moderate to intense snow events. The GPM CO serves as a reference for unifying the data from a constellation of partner satellites to provide next-generation, merged precipitation estimates globally and with high spatial and temporal resolutions. Through improved measurements of rain and snow, precipitation data from GPM provides new information such as details on precipitation structure and intensity; observations of hurricanes and typhoons as they transition from the tropics to the midlatitudes; data to advance near-real-time hazard assessment for floods, landslides, and droughts; inputs to improve weather and climate models; and insights into agricultural productivity, famine, and public health. Since launch, GPM teams have calibrated satellite instruments, refined precipitation retrieval algorithms, expanded science investigations, and processed and disseminated precipitation data for a range of applications. The current status of GPM, its ongoing science, and its future plans are presented.