On the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)

The importance of quantitative knowledge of tropical rainfall, its associated latent heating and variability is summarized in the context of climate change. Since the tropics are mainly covered with oceans, with some deserts and jungles, the monthly precipitation is not known within a factor of two. Hence the only way to measure it adequately for climate and general circulation models is from space. The paper describes the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM). This joint Japan-U.S. cooperative Earth Probe satellite will be launched from Japan in 1997 for a three-year mission. The scientific basis of the instrument and orbit selection is explained. The precipitation instrument complement comprises the first rain radar to be flown in space (PR), and a multi-channel passive microwave sensor (TMI) improved relative to the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) by an additional channel at 10 GHz. The third rain instrument is a five-channel VIS/IR (VIRS) sensor. Progress in construction of instruments, observatory, data system, and the ground validation program is summarized. A report is also given concerning development of the algorithms by which rainfall and its associated latent heat release will be calculated from the several instruments, separately and in combination, and how the scientists will interact with the data system to obtain the 32 rain data products necessary to fulfill the science requirements.