Earth ID: 11358

Liftoff

Story by Kayvon Sharghi Released on March 11, 2014

Caught outside during a severe storm? Maybe next time you won’t have to be thanks to the latest addition to NASA’s Earth-observing satellite fleet. The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory launched into space on February 27, 2014. The satellite is equipped with two instruments designed to scan our planet's atmosphere and generate 3D maps of rainfall and snowfall. Such measurements are part of an international effort led by NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to improve space-based monitoring of precipitation, with the goal of creating global precipitation data sets that are updated every three hours. Knowing how much rain and snow falls worldwide every few hours will help scientists predict extreme weather events. Watch the video to learn more.

Precipitation measurements collected by a network of satellites will be combined to create a global picture of rain and snow fall.

For More Information

NASA.gov

Story Credits

Visualizers/Animators:
Walt Feimer (HTSI)
Michael Lentz (USRA)
Chris Meaney (HTSI)
Trent L. Schindler (USRA)
Ernie Wright (USRA)

Video Editor:
Ryan Fitzgibbons (USRA)

Interviewees:
Arthur Hou Ph.D. (NASA/GSFC)
Gail Skofronick Jackson (NASA/GSFC)
Dalia B Kirschbaum (NASA/GSFC)
Candace C Carlisle (NASA/GSFC)
Ardeshir A Azarbarzin (NASA/GSFC)

Producer:
Ryan Fitzgibbons (USRA)

Lead Scientists:
Arthur Hou Ph.D. (NASA/GSFC)
Dalia B Kirschbaum (NASA/GSFC)

Videographer:
Rob Andreoli (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.)

Lead Writer:
Kayvon Sharghi (USRA)

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11358

Keywords:
SVS >> App
NASA Science >> Earth