Expectation of Global Precipitation Measurement from Space

1
Expectation of Global Precipitation Measurement
from Space
March 19, 2003 in Kyoto Shinsuke
Satoh NASDA/EORC
2
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)

• TRMM is a joint project between Japan and USA.
• The first spaceborne precipitation radar (PR)
  developed by NASDA and CRL was installed on TRMM.
• TRMM was launched in Nov. 1997 and continues
  excellent observation over five years since its
  launch.

Concept of Rainfall Measurement with PR, TMI and
VIRS
TRMM PR single and 1-day orbit observations.
3
Monthly Rainfall Observed by TRMM PR
The Precipitation Radar (PR) measures accurate
rainfall over ocean and land
4
3D Rain Structure of a Typhoon Observed by TRMM PR
5
Localized Heavy Rainfall Observed by PR
Tokai area, 11 Sep. 2000
6
The Concept of Global Precipitation Measurement
(GPM)

• Core Satellite
• Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR)
• Microwave Radiometer
• High-sensitivity precipitation measurement
• Calibration for constellation radiometers

• Constellation Satellites
• Microwave Radio-meters installed on each
  countrys satellite
• Frequent precipitation measurement

NASDA (Japan) DRP, H-IIA Launcher NASA
(US) Spacecraft, MWR
Expected Partners NASA, NOAA (US),
ESA (EU), China, Korea, others
3-hourly global rainfall map
7
Observation by Constellation Satellites with
Microwave Radiometer
1
Observation area with MWRs in 3 hours (1, 2, 4
and 8 satellites from top to bottom)
2
Coverages by TRMM PR and GPM DPR in a day
4
8
8
Evolution of International Satellite Constellation
G
TRMM PR,TMI
GPM core DPR,GMI
P
8
NPOESS-1,2,3 CMIS
7
Megha-Tropique
6
M
Number of Satellites
5
4
3
AMSR Follow-on
2
DMSP SSM/I
DMSP SSMIS
NPOESS CMIS
1
90
98
14
12
10
02
96
00
88
92
94
04
06
08
16
18
Year
Obs. Interval (Hour)
16
11
7
5
4
3
9
Scientific and Social Significance of GPM

• Precision brought by DPR
• High sensitivity to detect light rain and snow
• Accurate estimation of rainfall rate
• Separation of snow from rain

• 3-hourly global rain map by GPM
• Climate change assessment
• Improvement in weather forecasts
• Flood forecasting (Flood Alert System)
• Water resource management
• Agricultural production forecasting

10
An Example of the Expecting Flood Alert System
using GPM data
Accumulated Rainfall Data
Topography Information
Criteria Value of Flood Alert
An example of the flood alert information
GPM 3-hourly Rainfall in the Mekong valley
11
Summary

• Based on the TRMMs achievements, the Global
  Precipitation Measurement (GPM) is currently
  being studied by NASDA, CRL, NASA, and other
  international partners.
• 2. The accurate and frequent global precipitation
  data provided by GPM will help water cycle
  research, improve the accuracy of weather
  forecasts, and be used for the Global Flood Alert
  System (IFnet).
• 3. GPM will also contribute to our life by
  improving water resource management and
  irrigation system for agriculture.

12
For Panel Discussion Backup Slides
13
Flood information Provided by Spaceborne SAR
(JERS-1 1992-1998, ALOS in 2004)
Blue color shows the flooded region. Used data
was observed by SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) on
JERS-1 (Japanese Earth Resources Satellite-1) in
Aug. (blue) and Sep.(red, green), 1995. ALOS
(Advanced Land Observing Satellite) with PALSAR
will be launched in 2004.
14
El Niño and La Niña observed by TRMM
Monthly mean sea surface temperature estimated by
TMI
Accumulated monthly near-surface rainfall
observed by PR
15
Land-surface Observation and Soil Moisture
Estimates by PR
Feb. 1998
Aug. 1998
Green Forest Density Blue Wet Surface Red
Arid/Desert Areas
16
Configuration of GPM Ground Systems
GPM sub satellites
GPM core satellite
DRTS(NASDA)
ARTEMIS(ESA)
TDRS
TDRS
NASDA GPM Ground Systems
Other Organizations
NASA
GPM L1 Network
GPM L1 Network
MWR Cal../ Processing
MWR Processing
GMI L1
L1 Products L2 Products L3 Products
L1 Products L2 Products L3 Products
GMI L2
MWR L1
GMI L2
DPR Processing
3hrs Rain Map Processing
MWR L1 Products
NASA PPS (Precipitation Processing System)
L1 Products L2 Products L3 Products
3H Rain Map Products
4DDA products
Operational Users
DPR L0
3H Rain Map
DPR/GMI Matching
3H Rain Map Products
JMA IFnet
Science Users
DPR Processing
Data Archive
DPR L2
SDPF
DPR L1,L2
TSDIS
Notes Red marked products show TBD.
17
Precipitation measurement with DPR
Detectable range of PR-A (35 GHz) ( cannot
measure heavy rainfall )
Matched beam of PR-A and PR-U
Detectable range of PR-U (14 GHz) ( cannot
measure light rain or snowfall)
Height
Sensitive observation by the PR-A
ICE
SNOW
Discrimination of rain and snow using
differential attenuation
Snowfall measurement in the frigid zones
MELTING LAYAR
PR-U
PR-A
RAIN
Accurate rainfall estimation using differential
attenuation (DSD parameter estimation)
Accurate rainfall measurement in the tropics and
the temperate zones
Radar reflectivity
18
Improvement in the Accuracy of Rain Observation
by TRMM
(TMI PR)