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Description

Version 3.2 has been superseded by Version 3.3 (10.5067/MEASURES/GPCP/DATA306).

The Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) is the precipitation component of an internationally coordinated set of (mainly) satellite-based global products dealing with the Earth's water and energy cycles, under the auspices of the Global Water and Energy Experiment (GEWEX) Data and Assessment Panel (GDAP) of the World Climate Research Program. As the follow on to the GPCP Version 2.X products, GPCP Version 3 (GPCP V3.2) seeks to continue the long, homogeneous precipitation record using modern merging techniques and input data sets. The GPCPV3 suite currently consists the 0.5-degree monthly and daily products. A follow-on 0.1-degree 3-hourly is expected. All GPCPV3 products will be internally consistent. The monthly product spans 1983 - 2020. Inputs consist of the GPROF SSMI/SSMIS orbit files that are used to calibrate the PERSIANN-CDR IR-based precipitation in the span 60°N-S, which are in turn calibrated to the monthly 2.5-degree METH product. The METH-GPROF-adjusted PERSIANN-CDR IR estimates are then climatologically adjusted to the blended TCC/MCTG. Outside of 58°N-S, TOVS/AIRS estimates, adjusted climatologically to the MCTG, are used. The PERSIANN-CDR / TOVS/AIRS estimates are then merged in the region 35°N-S-58°N-S, which are then merged with GPCC gauge analyses over land to obtain the final product. In addition to the final precipitation field, ancillary precipitation and error estimates are provided.

Version Description

GPCPMONV3.2

Product Summary

Platforms
DMSP ,
NOAA POES ,
Aqua ,
GOES ,
METEOSAT ,
GMS ,
MTSAT ,
Himawari-8 ,
WEATHER STATIONS
Instruments
SSMIS ,
SSM/I ,
TOVS ,
AIRS ,
GOES-15 Imager ,
GOES-16 Imager ,
VISSR-METEOSAT ,
VISSR-GMS ,
MTSAT 1R Imager ,
MTSAT 2 Imager ,
AHI ,
RAIN GAUGES
Spatial Extent

N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180

Spatial Resolution
0.5 Decimal Degrees x 0.5 Decimal Degrees
Location
GLOBAL
Coordinate System
CARTESIAN
Granule Spatial Representation
CARTESIAN
Temporal Extent
1983-01-01 to 2023-12-31
Data Partner
Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (formerly Goddard DAAC), Terrestrial Information Systems Laboratory, Earth Sciences Divis ion, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA (NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/TISL/GESD
Concept ID
C2211412414-GES_DISC
Data State
COMPLETE
Number of Files/Granules
492
Processing Level
3
Published
Updated
Science Keywords
Precipitation ,
Precipitation Rate

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

Huffman, G. J. (2021). GPCP Precipitation Level 3 Monthly 0.5-Degree V3.2 [Data set]. NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/MEASURES/GPCP/DATA304 Date Accessed: 2026-04-21

Documents

READ-ME

PI DOCUMENTATION

ALGORITHM THEORETICAL BASIS DOCUMENT (ATBD)

Variables

The table below lists the variables contained within a single granule for this dataset. Variables often contain observed or derived geophysical measurements collected from a variety of sources, including remote sensing instruments on satellite and airborne platforms, field campaigns, in situ measurements, and model outputs. The terms variable, parameter, scientific data set, layer, and band have been used across NASA’s Earth science disciplines; however, variable is the designated nomenclature in NASA’s Common Metadata Repository (CMR). Variable metadata attributes such as Name, Description, Units, Data Type, Fill Value, Valid Range, and Scale Factor allow users to efficiently process and analyze the data. The full range of attributes may not be applicable to all variables. Additional information on variable attributes is typically available in the data, user guide, and/or other product documentation.

For questions on a specific variable, please use the Earthdata Forum.

Name Description Units Data Type Fill Value Valid Range Scale Factor Offset
gauge_precip gauge_precip mm/day float32 -99999 N/A N/A N/A
gauge_relative_weight gauge_relative_weight percent int16 -9999 N/A N/A N/A
lat Center latitude degrees_north float32 N/A N/A N/A N/A
lon Center longitude degrees_east float32 N/A N/A N/A N/A
probability_liquid_phase probability_liquid_phase percent int16 -9999 N/A N/A N/A
quality_index quality_index 1 float32 -99999 N/A N/A N/A
satellite_precip satellite_precip mm/day float32 -99999 N/A N/A N/A
satellite_source satellite_source index value int16 -9999 N/A N/A N/A
sat_gauge_error sat_gauge_error mm/day float32 -99999 N/A N/A N/A
sat_gauge_precip sat_gauge_precip mm/day float32 -99999 N/A N/A N/A
time Observation Time minutes since 1979-01-01 00:00:00 float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
time_bnds time_bnds N/A float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
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