Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) L-6
2012
The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission will advance the measurement of global precipitation,
making possible high spatial resolution precipitation measurements. GPM will provide the first opportunity to
calibrate measurements of global precipitation across tropical, mid-latitude, and polar regions. The GPM mission
has the following scientific objectives: (1) Advance precipitation measurement capability from space through
combined use of active and passive remote-sensing techniques; (2) Advance understanding of global water/energy
cycle variability and fresh water availability; (3) Improve climate prediction by providing the foundation for better
understanding of surface water fluxes, soil moisture storage, cloud/precipitation microphysics and latent heat release
in the Earth's atmosphere; (4) Advance Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) skills through more accurate and
frequent measurements of instantaneous rain rates; and (5) Improve high impact natural hazard (flood/drought,
landslide, and hurricane hazard) prediction capabilities. The GPM mission centers on the deployment of a Core
Observatory 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.
GPM, jointly led with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), involves a partnership with other
international space agencies including the French Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), the Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO), the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the European
Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), and others. The GPM Core
Observatory is currently being prepared for shipment to Japan for launch. Launch is scheduled for February 2014
from JAXA’s Tanegashima Space Center on an H-IIA 202 launch vehicle.
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