Graphic shows background to mission, key features of the satellite, and explains how atmospheric heat engines dive severe weather.
SCIENCE
GPM weather observation mission
By Duncan Mil
February 27, 2014 - Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) is an international satellite mission to provide next-generation observations of rain and snow worldwide every three hours. The GPM Core Observatory is scheduled to launch from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan on Thursday, February 27.
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Data from the GPM Microwave Imager measurements and the Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar will combine to provide a calibration standard for other microwave radiometers in the GPM constellation when overlapping measurements of same Earth scene are made.