GPM Outreach Event 2016

Precipitation (falling rain and snow) is our fresh water reservoir in the sky and is fundamental to life on Earth. A Global Tour of Precipitation from NASA shows how rain and snowfall moves around the world from the vantage of space using measurements from the Global Precipitation Measurement Core Observatory, or GPM. This is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and offers the most detailed and worldwide view of rain and snowfall ever created.This narrated movie is created for Science On a Sphere, a platform designed by NOAA that displays movies on a spherical screen. Audiences can view the movie from any side of the sphere and can see any part of Earth. During this show viewers will be guided through a variety of precipitation patterns and display features such as the persistent band of the heaviest rainfall around the equator and tight swirls of tropical storms in the Northern Hemisphere. At subtropical latitudes in both hemispheres there are persistent dry areas and this is where most of the major deserts reside. Sea surface temperature and winds are also shown to highlight the interconnectedness of the Earth system. The movie concludes with near real-time global precipitation data from GPM, which is provided to Science On a Sphere roughly six hours after the observation.To download this movie formatted for a spherical screen, visit NOAA's official Science On a Sphere website below:‌• A Global Tour of Precipitation from NASA‌• Near Real-Time Global Precipitation Data ||

An abridged version of "Monsoons: Wet, Dry, Repeat..."Complete transcript available.Music: Letting Go by Mario Lauer, 24 Dimensions by Christian Telford, David Travis Edwards, Matthew St. Laurent, and Robert Anthony Navarro || The monsoon is a seasonal rain and wind pattern that occurs over South Asia (among other places). Through NASA satellites and models we can see the monsoon patterns like never before. Monsoon rains provide important reservoirs of water that sustain human activities like agriculture and supports the natural environment through replenishment of aquifers. However, too much rainfall routinely causes disasters in the region, including flooding of the major rivers and landslides in areas of steep topography.This visualization uses a combination of NASA satellite data and models to show how and why the monsoon develops over this region. In the summer the land gets hotter, heating the atmosphere and pulling in cooler, moisture-laden air from the oceans. This causes pulses in heavy rainfall throughout the region. In the winter the land cools off and winds move towards the warmer ocean and suppressing rainfall on land.This is an abridged version of a longer narrated visualization. ||

An animation of the most currently available global precipitation data from IMERG. ||

On March 17, 2014 the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission's Core Observatory flew over the East coast's last snow storm of the 2013-2014 winter season. This was also one of the first major snow storms observed by GPM shortly after it was launched on February 27, 2014.The GPM Core Observatory carries two instruments that show the location and intensity of rain and snow, which defines a crucial part of the storm structure – and how it will behave. The GPM Microwave Imager sees through the tops of clouds to observe how much and where precipitation occurs, and the Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar observes precise details of precipitation in 3-dimensions.For forecasters, GPM's microwave and radar data are part of the toolbox of satellite data, including other low Earth orbit and geostationary satellites, that they use to monitor tropical cyclones and hurricanes. ||

A narrated visualization of Hurricane/Typhoon Kilo.For complete transcript, click here. || The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission core satellite provided many views of Tropical Cyclone Kilo over its very long life. GPM is a satellite co-managed by NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency that has the ability to analyze rainfall and cloud heights. GPM was able to provide data on Kilo over its 21 day life-span. The GPM core observatory satellite flew over Kilo on August 25, 2015 at 0121 UTC as it approached Johnston Atoll and found that rainfall intensity had recently increased and the tropical depression's storm tops were very tall. GPM's Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) discovered that rain was falling at a rate of almost 65 mm (2.6 inches) per hour and storm tops were measured at altitudes of over 15.4 km (9.5 miles)Kilo was born in the Central Pacific Ocean on August 21, became a hurricane, crossed the International Dateline and was re-classified as a Typhoon and finally became extra-tropical on September 11 off Hokkaido, Japan, the northernmost of Japan’s main islands. ||

Massive accumulations of heat pulled from the top layers of tropical ocean water and set spinning due to planetary rotation form a hurricane's spiraling vortex. But powering the inside of these storms we find one of nature's most astounding natural engines: hot towers. Scientists discovered hot towers in recent years by observing storms from space and creating advanced supercomputer models to decipher how a hurricane sustains its winding movement. The models show that when air spirals inward toward the eye of a hurricane it collides with an unstable region of air at the eyewall, where the strongest winds are found, and suddenly deflects upwards. This rush of warm, moist air is accelerated by surrounding patches of convective clouds, called hot towers, which strengthen and propel the hurricane by keeping the vertical ring of clouds in motion. Watch the first video below as NASA researchers look under the hood of these cloud super-engines to reveal exciting findings about a hurricane's internal motor. ||

Hurricane Sandy segment for the GPM Science On a Sphere (SOS) show titled "Water Falls". The hurricane visualization is generated from GEOS-5 model output spanning October 26, 2012 to November 2, 2012 and repeated on the globe three times. || Sample composite of the Hurricane Sandy segment for the SOS show "Water Falls". Hurricane Sandy is multiplied three times around the globe so that it can be seen by all visitors of a SOS exhibit. || Cloud layer of Hurricane Sandy for the SOS "Water Falls" show. (NOTE: The layer is multiplied three times for coverage around the SOS.) ||

On March 10, the Core Observatory passed over an extra-tropical cyclone about 1055 miles (1700 kilometers) due east of Japan's Honshu Island. This visualization shows data from the GPM Microwave Imager, which observes different types of precipitation with 13 channels. Scientists analyze that data and then use it to calculate the light to heavy rain rates and falling snow within the storm. || Narrated video using the first light visualizations of the GPM GMI instrument.For complete transcript, click here.This video is also available on our YouTube channel. ||

This is what falling rain and snow look like from space. || A new data set produced by NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission is providing scientists with the most complete look at rainfall and snowfall to date. Called IMERG, the data set combines precipitation measurements from 12 Earth-observing satellites and the GPM Core Observatory spacecraft, which launched in February 2014. Maps created from the data set reveal what’s happening beneath Earth’s clouds, allowing researchers to see the movement of rain and snow storms around the planet. Falling rain and snow are essential parts of Earth's water cycle, which governs regional weather systems and the movement of heat energy that helps drive our climate system. The maps will inform climate models that can provide a long-term outlook on how precipitation patterns may change in the future. Watch the video to learn more. ||

Joe Munchak describes the features of Tropical Cyclone Winston. || The NASA GPM satellite passed directly over Tropical Cyclone Winston just after it made landfall on the north coast of Viti Levu Island, which is the largest and most populated island in the nation of Fiji. At the time, Winston was one of the most intense tropical cyclones observed in the South Pacific Ocean, and took an unusual track on the way to Fiji, completing a large counter-clockwise loop during the preceding week. NASA's GPM satellite is designed to measure rainfall using both passive microwave (GMI) and radar (DPR) instruments. GMI measuremensts are sensitive to the column-integrated rain and ice water, and cover a wide swath, whereas the DPR can observe 3D structures of radar signals reflected by rain and snow in a narrower swath. In this animation, the GMI rainfall estimates are shown at the earth's surface below the 3D storm structure revealed by DPR. ||

A look back at the storms captured by GPM for 2015. || A look back at the storms captured by GPM around the world during 2015. The storms that appear in order are as follows:1. New England Nor’easter – January 26 – New England, USA 2. Snowstorm – February 17 – Kentucky, Virginia and North Carolina, USA3. Tornadic Thunderstorms in Midwest – March 25 – Oklahoma and Arkansas, USA4. Typhoon Maysak – March 30 – Yap Islands, Southwest Pacific Ocean5. Rain Accumulation from Cyclone Quang – April 28 through May 3 - Australia6. Flooding in Central Texas and Oklahoma – May 19 through May 26 - USA7. Hurricane Blanca – June 1 – Eastern Pacific Ocean, Baja Peninsula, Mexico8. Tropical Storm Ashobaa – June 8 – Arabian Sea9. Tropical Storm Carlos – June 12 – Southwestern Coast, Mexico10. Tropical Storm Bill – June 16 – Texas, USA11. USA Rain Accumulation – June through July - USA12. Tropical Storm Raquel – July 1 – Solomon Islands, South Pacific Ocean13. Tropical Storm Claudette – July 13 – North Atlantic Ocean14. Typhoon Nangka – July 15 - Japan15. Hurricane Delores Remnants Rainfall – July 13 through 20 – Southwestern USA16. Typhoon Halola – July 21 - Japan17. Typhoon Soudelor – August 5 – Taiwan and China18. Hurricane/Typhoon Kilo – August 23 through September 9 – Hawaii and Pacific Ocean19. Tropical Storm Erika – August 26 – Caribbean Sea20. Tropical Storm Fred – August 30 – Cape Verde21. Tropical Depression Nine – September 16 – Central Atlantic Ocean22. Tropical Storm Ida – September 21 – Central Atlantic Ocean23. Tropical Storm Niala – September 25 – Hawaii and Pacific Ocean24. Tropical Storm Marty – September 27 – Southwestern Coast, Mexico25. Typhoon Dujuan – September 22 through September 29 – Taiwan and China26. Hurricane Joaquin – September 29 – Caribbean Sea27. Typhoon Koppu – October 15 - Philippines28. Hurricane Patricia – October 22 – Texas, USA29. Tropical Cyclone Chapala – October 28 through November 3 – Yemen and Arabian Sea30. Tropical Cyclone Megh – November 8 – Yemen and Arabian Sea31. Typhoon IN-FA – November 19 – Western Pacific Ocean32. Hurricane Sandra – November 26 – Eastern Pacific Ocean33. India Flooding – November 28 through December 4 – Tamil Nadu, India34. Winter Storm Desmond – November 30 through December 7 – United Kingdom35. Tropical Cyclone 05S – December 9 – Reunion and Mauritius, South Indian Ocean36. Super Typhoon Melor – December 12 - Philippines37. Tornadoes and Flooding in Midwest – December 21 through December 28 – Midwestern USA38. Paraguay Flooding – December 22 through December 29 – Asuncion, Paraguay39. Tropical Depression 95P – December 29 – Pacific Ocean40. Tropical Cyclone 06P (ULA) – December 30 – Samoa, South Pacific Ocean41. Near Real-Time IMERG – December 25 through December 31 ||

The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) is an international satellite mission to provide next-generation observations of rain and snow worldwide every three hours. NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will launch a "Core" satellite carrying advanced instruments that will set a new standard for precipitation measurements from space. The data they provide will be used to unify precipitation measurements made by an international network of partner satellites to quantify when, where, and how much it rains or snows around the world. The GPM mission will help advance our understanding of Earth's water and energy cycles, improve the forecasting of extreme events that cause natural disasters, and extend current capabilities of using satellite precipitation information to directly benefit society. ||

The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission is an international network of satellites that provide the next-generation global observations of rain and snow. Building upon the success of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), the GPM concept centers on the deployment of a "Core" satellite carrying an advanced radar / radiometer system to measure precipitation from space and serve as a reference standard to unify precipitation measurements from a constellation of research and operational satellites. Through improved measurements of precipitation globally, the GPM mission will help to advance our understanding of Earth's water and energy cycle, improve forecasting of extreme events that cause natural hazards and disasters, and extend current capabilities in using accurate and timely information of precipitation to directly benefit society. GPM, initiated by NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) as a global successor to TRMM, comprises a consortium of international space agencies, including the Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES), the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), and others. The GPM Core Observatory launched from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan, at 1:37 PM EST on February 27, 2014.For more information and resources please visit the Precipitation Measurement Missions web site.

This short video explains how a raindrop falls through the atmosphere and why a more accurate look at raindrops can improve estimates of global precipitation.For a printable droplet hand out click here. || This short video explains how a raindrop falls through the atmosphere and why a more accurate look at raindrops can improve estimates of global precipitation.Complete transcripts are available in English and Brazilian Portuguese. || Updated raindrop animation || Animation of the raindrop shape only.For a printable droplet handout, click here. ||

This is a spinoff video for the Science On a Sphere film, "Water Falls." || A short video explaining the breakdown of freshwater in relative percentages by location and usage.Complete transcripts are available in English and Brazilian Portuguese. ||

The need for measuring the when and where and how much of precipitation goes beyond our weekend plans. We also need to know precipitaiton on a global scale. Rain gauges and radars are useful but are inconsistent and do not cover enough of the globe to provide accurate precipitation rates. The GPM constellation will cover the globe and give us a more comprehensive look at precipitation. || For complete transcript, click here. ||

Not all raindrops are created equal. The size of falling raindrops depends on several factors, including where the cloud producing the drops is located on the globe and where the drops originate in the cloud. For the first time, scientists have three-dimensional snapshots of raindrops and snowflakes around the world from space, thanks to the joint NASA and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. With the new global data on raindrop and snowflake sizes this mission provides, scientists can improve rainfall estimates from satellite data and in numerical weather forecast models, helping us better understand and prepare for extreme weather events.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube Channel. ||