Overview
Global Precipitation Measurement-Microwave Imager
Did you know that freshwater makes up less than one percent of the Earth’s total water? Scientists from around the world are studying how precipitation, climate, and weather affect the availability of our water resources, especially in the context of global climate change.
The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission, a joint effort between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), is providing better global precipitation measurements from space. GPM tells us about Earth’s water and energy cycles, improves forecasting of events that cause natural disasters, and extends our current capabilities for using highly accurate precipitation data. The GPM Microwave Imager (GMI) is a conical-scan microwave radiometer which uses high-sensitivity frequencies to discriminate between noise and signatures of small particles of precipitation.
The GPM satellite successfully launched from southern Japan on Feb. 27, 2014, onboard an H-IIA launch vehicle
What We Did
We designed, developed, and fabricated GMI. It works in concert with the JAXA-built Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) instrument. GMI’s higher frequency channels measure small particles of ice, snow, and rain while DPR gives a 3D view of a column of precipitation. Together, these instruments give scientists an unprecedented view of small precipitation particles with a much higher degree of accuracy.
GMI’s design provides state-of-the-art accuracy, so the instrument has become the calibration standard for the entire GPM constellation. GMI will be used to cross-calibrate other GPM sensors, setting a new reference standard for the scientific community.
Click this link to learn more about the GMI instrument on the NASA website.