a.
Joint
project between NASA and Japan’s National Space Development Agency (NASDA).
b.
Monitors
tropical rainfall.
c.
Monitors
release of energy associated with atmospheric circulation around the earth,
i.e. latent heat energy.
d.
Incorporates
3 main measuring instruments:
1) VIRS - Visible Infrared Scanner (Primary
Instrument)
2) TMI -
TRMM Microwave Imager
3) PR - Precipitation Radar
II.
TRMM
Instrument Characteristics
a.
VIRS -Wavelengths
of 0.63, 1.6, 3.75, 10.8, and 12 micrometers.
-
Spatial
Resolution of 2.1 km
-
Swath
Width of 720 km
b.
TMI
- Frequency of 10.65, 19.35, 37.0, 85.5 GHz dual polarization, 22.235 GHz
vertical polarization
-
Spatial
Resolution ranging from 5 km at 85.5 GHz to 45 km at 10.65 GHz.
-
Swath
Width of 760 km
c.
PR
- Frequency of 13.8 GHz horizontal polarization
-
Spatial
Resolution of 4.3 km at nadir
-
Swath
Width of 220 km
d.
Temporal
Resolution for entire TRMM is 1 calendar month.
e. Globally
extends 35 degrees south and 35 degrees north latitude.
III.
Data
Availability
-
Registration
is available online and free data can be received via email. Provided through TRMM Science Data and Info.
System.
-
May
require you to be a member of a scientific institution or university.
IV.
Useful
Applications
a.
Provides
rainfall data in tropical and semi-tropical regions of the earth.
b.
Provides
an understanding of how clouds affect climate.
c.
Helps
to understand latent heat and how it affects the global hydrological cycle.
2) http
//daac.gsf.nasa.gov/CAMPAIGN-DOCS/hydrology/hd_trmm_intro.html