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gpmmrms·v1·dataset

Ground radar rainfall maps for checking satellites

GPM Ground Validation Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor (MRMS) Precipitation Reanalysis for Satellite Validation Product V1
atmosphere NASA GHRC_DAAC Level 3 ASCII
In plain English

What it measures. Ground-based radar maps of rainfall over North America, including rain rate, rain type, quality flags, and correction factors. These are reference measurements made on the ground.

How it's made. Built from the NOAA Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor system using ground weather radar, model fields, and rain gauges, then specially reprocessed to suit satellite comparison needs.

How & where you'd use it. Used as a ground-truth reference to check and validate how well rain-measuring satellites are performing.

What's measured

Atmosphere › Precipitation › Liquid PrecipitationAtmosphere › Precipitation › Precipitation RateSpectral/Engineering › Radar › Radar Reflectivity

Coverage & cadence

  • Time span2014-03-02 → 2018-10-30
  • Measured byGROUND STATIONS (DOPPLER RADAR, RAIN GAUGES)
  • Processing levelLevel 3
  • Spatial extent-130, 20, -60, 55
  • FormatsASCII
  • 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

The GPM Ground Validation Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor (MRMS) Precipitation Reanalysis for Satellite Validation Product dataset contains precipitation rate and type estimates, quality control products, and precipitation corrective factors products. These data products were created using the NOAA MRMS System which ingests Weather Surveillance Radar 88 Doppler (WSR-88D) radar data, Rapid Update Cycle (RAP) model analysis fields, and gauge data. It should be noted that these data products are not standard MRMS. Significant post-processing is applied to MRMS to generate products specifically adapted to satellite purposes and needs over North America. These data are available from March 2, 2014 through October 30, 2018 in ASCII format.

Get the data

gpmmrms_access.py
import earthaccess
earthaccess.login(strategy="netrc")          # free Earthdata Login

results = earthaccess.search_data(
    short_name="gpmmrms",
    version="1",
    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 GHRC_DAAC
Browsing CMR needs no login. Downloading or streaming bytes needs a free Earthdata Login + the earthaccess package.