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NASA’s Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) monitors the distribution and variability of tropical precipitation and how these rainfall patterns affect Earth's weather and climate.

Learn more about TRMM

Type

Earth Observation Satellite

Launch

Nov. 27, 1997

Objective

Measure monthly and seasonal rainfall over the global tropics and subtropics
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Instrument NameOperational Date(s)Spectral ResolutionType of Instrument
Cloud and Earth Radiant Energy Sensor (CERES)1997 Radiometer
Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS)1997 Imaging Spectrometer/Radiometer
Precipitation Radar (PR)1997 Profiler/Sounder
TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI)1997 Imaging Spectrometer/Radiometer
Visible Infrared Radiometer (VIRS)1997 Imaging Spectrometer/Radiometer

Instruments Aboard TRMM

Instrument Name Operational Date(s) Spectral Resolution Type of Instrument
Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System

0.3-5 µm (SW), 0.3-200 µm (TOT) and 8-12 µm (WN) channels

 Spectrometers/Radiometers
Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System Flight Model 1

0.3-5 µm (SW), 0.3-200 µm (TOT) and 8-12 µm (WN) channels

 Spectrometers/Radiometers
Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System Flight Model 2

0.3-5 µm (SW), 0.3-200 µm (TOT) and 8-12 µm (WN) channels

 Spectrometers/Radiometers
Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System Prototype Flight Model Spectrometers/Radiometers
Lightning Imaging Sensor

Narrow-band filter centered at 777 nm

 Spectrometer/Radiometer
Profiler/Sounders
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager Spectrometers/Radiometers
Visible and Infrared Scanner (VIRS)

0.63µm; 1.6µm; 3.75µm; 10.8µm and 12µm

 Spectrometers/Radiometers

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