GMI
Overview
The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Microwave Imager (GMI) instrument is a multi-channel, conical- scanning, microwave radiometer serving an essential role in the near-global-coverage and frequent-revisit-time requirements of GPM.
The GMI is characterized by thirteen microwave channels ranging in frequency from 10 GHz to 183 GHz. In addition to carrying channels similar to those on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI), the GMI carries four high frequency, millimeter-wave, channels about 166 GHz and 183 GHz.
With a 1.2 m diameter antenna, the GMI will provide significantly improved spatial resolution over TMI.
Learn more: https://pmm.nasa.gov/GPM/flight-project/GMI
Disasters Applications
- GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) can measure rainfall rates within storm systems to quantify the impact of tropical cyclones and other storm systems.
- GMI data is integrated into multiple Numerical Weather Prediction models to initialize weather forecasts with observational data and improve storm track prediction, including the Naval Research Lab (NRL) Automated Tropical Cyclone Forecasting system (ATCF), the Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA/NOAA) Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS), and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) (https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/610/applied-sciences/mission_applications_materials/GPMApplicationsExamples22017.pdf)
Latest Updates
September 4, 2019
Video of GPM Satellite observes Hurricane Dorian over the Bahamas
The NASA / JAXA Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory flew over Hurricane Dorian on September 1st (5:22pm ET / 21:22 UTC) as the storm was directly over Abaco Island in The Bahamas. The satellite captured data on rainfall rates within the storm as it flew over using its Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) and GPM Microwave Imager (GMI).
In this animation the multi-satellite GPM IMERG product is shown first to illustrate rainfall rates prior to the overpass. When the camera zooms in data...
July 12, 2019
GPM Core Observatory rainfall rates from Tropical Storm Barry captured July 11th, 2019 at 8:26am CT. Credit: Jacob Reed / NASA GSFC
NASA / JAXA’s GPM Core Observatory passed over developing Tropical Depression 2 (which was upgraded to Tropical Storm Barry later in the morning) in the Gulf of Mexico the morning of July 11th 2019 at 8:26am CT, capturing estimates of rainfall rates within the storm. The first image shows rainfall rates collected by GPM’s Microwave Imager, while the second...
October 24, 2018
NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) core observatory satellite captured an image of Super Typhoon Yutu when it flew over the powerful storm just as the center was striking the central Northern Mariana Islands north of Guam. Early on October 25, 2018 Super Typhoon Yutu crossed over the U.S. commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. It was the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane. The National Weather Service in Guam said it was the strongest storm to hit any part of the U.S. this year.
October 8, 2018
The GPM Microwave Imager (GMI) has 13 channels that view different aspects of the hurricane in different ways. This overpass of Hurricane Michael on Oct. 8th, 2018 shows the combined low, mid, and high-frequency GMI channels along with the retrieved rain rate for the same overpass developed by combining all channels to understand the precipitation structure.
September 14, 2018
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 is...
September 10, 2018
Video of GPM Observes Tropical Storm Florence Temporarily Weakened by Wind Shear
GPM passed over Tropical Storm Florence on September 7, 2018. As the camera moves in on the storm, DPR's volumetric view of the storm is revealed. A slicing plane moves across the volume to display precipitation rates throughout the storm. Shades of green to red represent liquid precipitation. Frozen precipitation is shown in cyan and purple.
NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM core observatory satellite flew over Tropical Storm Florence on September 7, 2018. At that time, the...
August 23, 2018
GPM Core Observatory overpass of Hurricane Lane from Aug. 23rd, 2018 at 6:21am HST (local time).
Battling increased vertical shear, Hurricane Lane struggles northward, down from its Category 5 peak but still featuring winds of over 110 knots. The storm has already begun impacting the Hawaiian Islands, bringing over a foot of rain to Hilo via its outer bands. Lane is expected to continue northward, approaching the island chain, before slowly veering...
September 18, 2017
Intensifying hurricane Marie is on a path that is predicted to impact the Leeward Islands. Hurricane Irma caused death and wide spread destruction there less than two weeks ago. Very powerful convective storms and multiple lightning strokes within Maria have been cited as proof that Maria is an energetic intensifying hurricane.
The GPM core observatory satellite had an excellent view of hurricane Maria when it passed almost directly above the hurricane on September...
September 8, 2017
Below are 89 GHz RGBs (composited) of the three hurricanes affecting the Atlantic basin this morning. Notice a decent eye structure is observable in all of the storms, including Hurricane Katia in the SW Gulf of Mexico. This was noted in the 4 AM CDT discussion about the hurricane from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), “Enhanced BD-curve infrared imagery and a GPM microwave composite image indicate improved banding over the western portion of the circulation and the earlier ragged eye presentation has become much more distinct.” SPoRT helped with the implementation of the...
September 6, 2017
The GPM core observatory satellite had an exceptional view of hurricane Irma's eye when it flew above on September 5, 2017 at 12:52 PM AST (1652 UTC). This image shows a rainfall analysis that was derived from GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) data. Irma was approaching the Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds of about 178 mph (155 kts). This made Irma a dangerous category five hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane...
August 25, 2017
NASA’s Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center collaborated with the Naval Research Laboratory to integrate false color composites of passive microwave brightness temperatures that are helpful for identifying the center of circulation of storms like Hurricane Harvey, especially when thick cloud cover may otherwise obscure the center of the circulation. A false color composite is generated using 89 GHz brightness temperatures from the Global Precipitation Measurement...
August 25, 2017
Hurricane Harvey's has continued to intensify today as it moves toward the Texas coast. Bands of rain from the hurricane were affecting the Gulf coast from Louisiana to southeastern Texas.
The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission core observatory satellite had another look at hurricane Harvey on August 25, at 7:50 AM CDT (1150 UTC...
October 6, 2016
NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM core observatory satellite flew over Hurricane Matthew several times as the category 4 storm headed toward Florida.
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.
Video of GPM Monitors...
September 30, 2016
Matthew rapidly intensified Thursday evening and winds increased to 100 kts (115 mph) by Friday September 30, 2016. The GPM core observatory satellite flew over Hurricane Matthew on September 20, 2016 at 0946Z (5:46 AM EDT). A rainfall analysis from GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) showed that the Matthew had heavy rainfall in the northern side of the newly formed eye wall. GPM’s radar area of coverage (shown in a...
September 27, 2016
Three typhoons have battered Taiwan in the past few weeks. Super Typhoon Meranti, the strongest typhoon of the year, caused havoc as it passed to the south of Taiwan on September 14, 2016. Typhoon Malakas clipped northeastern Taiwan a few days later. Typhoon Megi has now caused injuries, deaths and destruction as it passes over northeastern Taiwan.
The GPM core observatory satellite passed over on September 26, 2016 at 2231 UTC when typhoon Megi was approaching...
