The TIROS (Television Infrared Observation Satellite) Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) Pathfinder Path A dataset is currently a 9-yr dataset, 1985-93, of global fields of surface and atmospheric parameters derived from analysis of HIRS2 and MSU data on the NOAA-9, NOAA-10, NOAA-11, and NOAA-12 polar-orbiting operational meteorological satellites. The retrieved fields include land and ocean surface skin temperature, atmospheric temperature and water vapor profiles, total atmospheric 0 3 burden, cloud-top pressure and radiatively effective fractional cloud cover, outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) and longwave cloud radiative forcing, and precipitation estimate. The fields are gridded on a 1° x 1° latitude-longitude grid and stored on a 1-day mean, 5-day mean, and monthly mean basis, with data from each satellite's local A.M. and P.M. orbits stored separately. Preliminary validation studies of the interannual differences of geophysical parameters derived from the TOVS Pathfinder dataset imply sufficient accuracy for their use both to study atmospheric behavior as well as to validate the ability of general circulation models to reproduce this behavior. The TOVS dataset is particularly suitable for climate studies because surface, atmospheric, cloud, and radiative parameters are all produced simultaneously in an internally consistent manner. Hence, statistical relationships between them will not be impaired by the heterogeneity inherent in data from different sources. In addition, the close agreement of OLR computed from the products with that observed by the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment enables explanation of interannual variability of OLR in terms of the variability of its component parts. The dataset is available for all users through the Goddard Space

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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.

Abstract. Climatological features of mesoscale rain activities over the Mediterranean region between 5° W–40° E and 28° N–48° N are examined using the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) 3B42 and 2A25 rain products. The 3B42 rainrates at 3-hourly, 0.25°×0.25° spatial resolution for the last 10 years (January 1998 to July 2007) are used to form and analyze the 5-day mean and monthly mean climatology of rainfall. Results show considerable regional and seasonal differences of rainfall over the Mediterranean Region. The maximum rainfall (3–5 mm day−1) occurs over the mountain regions of Europe, while the minimum rainfall is observed over North Africa (~0.5 mm day−1). The main rainy season over the Mediterranean Sea extends from October to March, with maximum rainfall occurring during November–December. Over the Mediterranean Sea, an average rainrate of ~1–2 mm day−1 is observed, but during the rainy season there is 20% larger rainfall over the western Mediterranean Sea than that over the eastern Mediterranean Sea. During the rainy season, mesoscale rain systems generally propagate from west to east and from north to south over the Mediterranean region, likely to be associated with Mediterranean cyclonic disturbances resulting from interactions among large-scale circulation, orography, and land-sea temperature contrast.

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