International global precipitation measurement (GPM) program and mission: An overview

The purpose of the International Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Program is to develop a next-generation space-based measuring system which can fulfill the requirements for frequent, global, and accurate precipitation measurements. The associated GPM Mission is being developed as an international collaboration of space agencies, weather and hydrometeorological forecast services, research institutions, and individual scientists. The design and development of the GPM Mission is an outgrowth of valuable knowledge and published findings enabled by the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM). From the TRMM experience, it was recognized that the GPM Mission must consist of a mixed nonsunsynchronous and sunsynchronous orbiting satellite constellation in order to have the capability to provide physically based retrievals on a global basis, with 3-h sampling assured at any given Earth coordinate 90% of the time. The heart of the GPM constellation is the Core satellite, under joint development by NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which will carry a dual frequency Ku/Kaband precipitation radar (PR) and a high-resolution, multichannel passive microwave (PMW) rain radiometer. The core is required to serve as the calibration reference system and the fundamental microphysics probe to enable an integrated measuring system made up of additional constellationsupport satellites, each carrying at a minimum some type of PMW radiometer. In this article the background, planning, design, and implementation of the GPM is described.