Raw microwave readings for rain (GPM)
What it measures. Raw, calibrated microwave brightness readings from the GMI instrument across 13 channels, meaning how much microwave energy reaches the sensor before it is turned into weather products.
How it's made. Produced from the GPM mission's GMI radiometer by converting the sensor's raw counts into geolocated, calibrated brightness temperatures using careful in-flight calibration.
How & where you'd use it. A low-level building-block input that mostly feeds into rainfall and precipitation products. Most people use it indirectly through those higher-level products rather than directly.
What's measured
Coverage & cadence
- Time span2014-03-04 → ongoing
- Measured byGPM (GMI)
- Processing levelLevel 1B
- Spatial extent-180, -70, 180, 70
- StatusCOMPLETE
What you can do with it
- Map air pollutants — NO₂, aerosols, ozone
- Track greenhouse gases and Earth's energy budget
- Feed weather and air-quality analysis
Official description
Version 07 is the current version of the data set. Older versions will no longer be available and have been superseded by Version 07. The 1BGMI algorithm uses a non-linear three-point in-flight calibration to derive antenna temperature (Ta) and convert Ta to Tb using GMI antenna pattern corrections. The four-point calibration, which utilizes noise diode measurements, is used to monitor the sensor non-linearty. The noise diode measurements also provide a hot load back-up calibration in case hot load measurements are lost. Details are in the GMI ATBD. The 1BGMI algorithm and software transform Level 0 counts into geolocated and calibrated brightness temperatures (Tb) for 13 GMI channels.
Get the data
import earthaccess
earthaccess.login(strategy="netrc") # free Earthdata Login
results = earthaccess.search_data(
short_name="GPM_1BGMI",
version="07",
bounding_box=(-122.5, 37.2, -121.8, 37.9), # your area (W,S,E,N)
temporal=("2024-01-01", "2024-12-31"), # your dates
)
files = earthaccess.open(results) # stream straight from GES_DISC Browsing CMR needs no login. Downloading or streaming bytes needs a free Earthdata Login + the earthaccess package. Official links
- Access the data via HTTPS GET DATA
- Use the Earthdata Search to find and retrieve data sets across multiple data centers. GET DATA
- Access the data via the OPeNDAP protocol. USE SERVICE API
- README Document VIEW RELATED INFORMATION
- Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document VIEW RELATED INFORMATION
- FILE SPECIFICATION DOCUMENT VIEW RELATED INFORMATION
- Release Notes VIEW RELATED INFORMATION
- GPM and partner sensors anomalous events VIEW RELATED INFORMATION