TRMM 2b31-Based Rainfall Climatology Version 1.0

This is a rainfall climatology based on analysis of the full dataset for TRMM 2B31 (combined PR, TMI profile) from 1997-2006.
A series of layers are available including monthly mean surface rainfall, annual surface total rainfall, rainfall per rain hour, driest and wettest months and wind driven (i.e. surface received) rainfall. If you tick 'Rainfall' under 'Temporary places', each of the grids that you see represents a 1000 by 1000 km tile and contains a placemark which links to approx. 1km resolution data. The climatology has been calculated as means of all rainfall observations to March 2006 with the TRMM 2b31 product and represent atmospheric rainfall. Apprximately 50,000 satellite swaths (0.5 TB of data) were processed to produce these grids. The wind-driven rainfall represent rainfall reaching the ground and is modelled on the basis of 1km gridded TRMM rainfall, wind speed and direction and terrain conditions (slope, aspect and topographic exposure) The data processing and the visualisation, subtiling and Google Earth KML interface were carried out by Dr Mark Mulligan of Kings College London . The actual data can be accessed from servers at Kings College London, UK. The data are available in zipped ARCASCII format, in the geographic coordinate system, WGS84 datum.

To use simply Fly To your location and click the nearest waypoint. You will then see a balloon which allows you to preview or download the 1000 km tiles of data. Previewing the data will open a new network link and display the data as a ground overlay. The data can be displayed with a colour classification derived from the local 1000 km tile (a local legend) or one which is consistent between 1000 km tiles (a global legend). Use the global legend if comparing across tiles and the local legend if working within a single tile (to give the most precise visualisation). Click on the 'legend' link (under global legend or local legend, depending on which preveiws you have active) for the legend. Click here for a short video which indicates how to use this Google Earth interface (30 MB, AVI).

DATA AVAILABLE

View and access the ARCASCII grids using Google Earth here

View a comparison between this TRMM Climatology and the WorldClim rainfall climatology here

Download Google Earth here

There is a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document here.

Please use the citation : Mulligan, M (2006) Global Gridded 1km TRMM Rainfall Climatology and Derivatives.Version 1.0. Database: http://www.ambiotek.com/1kmrainfall

The data used in this study were acquired as part of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM). The algorithms were developed by the TRMM Science Team. The data were processed by the TRMM Science Data and Information System (TSDIS) and the TRMM Office; they are archived and distributed by the Goddard Distributed Active Archive Center. TRMM is an international project jointly sponsored by the Japan National Space Development Agency (NASDA) and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Office of Earth Sciences.

DISTRIBUTION
Users are prohibited from any commercial, non-free resale, or redistribution without explicit written permission from Kings College London (mark.mulligan@kcl.ac.uk) Users should acknowledge Kings College London as the source used in the creation of any reports, publications, new data sets, derived products, or services resulting from the use of this data set. Kings College London also request reprints of any publications and notification of any redistributing efforts.
NO WARRANTY OR LIABILITY
Kings College London provides these data without any warranty of any kind whatsoever, either express or implied, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Kings College London shall not be liable for incidental, consequential, or special damages arising out of the use of any data downloaded.

Accessed times since November 2006