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Description

The new version of these data is in GPM-like format (consistent with the GPM Dual-frequency Radar data format), and can be found under the name GPM_2APR.

This is the sigma zero algorithm, which inputs the PR power (1B21) and computes estimates of the path attenuation and its reliability by using the surface as a reference target. It also computes the spatial and temporal statistics of the surface scattering cross section and classifies the cross sections into land/ocean and rain/no rain categories.
Changes in horizontal resolution resulting from the TRMM boost that occurred on 24 August 2001:

Pre-Boost (before 7 August 2001): Temporal Resolution: 91.5 min/orbit ~ 16 orbits/day; Swath Width: 215 km; Horizontal Resolution: 4.3 km

Post-Boost (after 24 August 2001): Temporal Resolution: 92.5 min/orbit ~ 16 orbits/day; Swath Width: 247 km; Horizontal Resolution: 5.0 km

Product Summary

Platforms
TRMM
Instruments
PR
Projects
TRMM
Spatial Extent

N: 38 S: -38 E: 180 W: -180

Spatial Resolution
5 Kilometers x 5 Kilometers
Location
TROPICS
Coordinate System
CARTESIAN
Granule Spatial Representation
CARTESIAN
Temporal Extent
1997-12-31 to 2014-10-07
Data Partner
Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (formerly Goddard DAAC), Terrestrial Information Systems Laboratory, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA (NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/TISL/GESDI
Concept ID
C1282060544-GES_DISC
Data State
COMPLETE
Number of Files/Granules
95693
Processing Level
2
Published
Updated
Science Keywords
SIGMA NAUGHT ,
Rain

Citation

Citation is critically important for dataset documentation and discovery. This dataset is openly shared, without restriction, in accordance with the EOSDIS Data Use and Citation Guidance.

Copy Citation

NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center. (2011). TRMM Precipitation Radar Surface Cross-Section L2 1.5 hours V7 (TRMM_2A21) at GES DISC [Dataset]. NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/H1T6FITL401R Date Accessed: 2026-09-11

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Publications Citing This Dataset

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Title Year Author Topic
Sea surface wind speed retrieval and validation of the interferometric imaging radar altimeter aboard the Chinese Tiangong-2 space laboratory Ren, Lin, Yang, Jingsong, Jia, Yongjun, Dong, Xiao, Wang, Juan, Zheng, Gang SIGMA NAUGHT, Rain
Wind speed retrieval from Ku-band Tropical Rainfall Mapping Mission precipitation radar data at low incidence angles Ren, Lin, Yang, Jingsong, Zheng, Gang, Wang, Juan SIGMA NAUGHT, Rain
A Ku-band low incidence model for wind speed retrieval from TRMM precipitation radar data Ren, Lin, Yang, Jingsong, Zheng, Gang, Wang, Juan SIGMA NAUGHT, Rain
A surface wind modelbased method to estimate rain-induced radar path attenuation over ocean Li, Li, Im, Eastwood, Durden, Stephen L., Haddad, Ziad S. SIGMA NAUGHT, Rain
Simulation of SeaWinds measurements in the presence of rain using collocated TRMM PR data Draper, D.W., Long, D.G. SIGMA NAUGHT, Rain, Radar Backscatter, Radar Reflectivity
A melting-layer model for passive/active microwave remote sensing applications. Part I: Model formulation and comparison with observations Olson, William S., Bauer, Peter, Viltard, Nicolas F., Johnson, Daniel E., Tao, Wei-Kuo, Meneghini, Robert, Liao, Liang SIGMA NAUGHT, Rain
Land surface monitoring by backscattering coefficient from TRMM/PR 2A21 Oki, T., Seto, S., Musiake, K. SIGMA NAUGHT, Rain
Influence of sea surface backscattering on the spaceborne radar measurements of rainfall Li, L., Im, E. SIGMA NAUGHT, Rain
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