Online 'Global Rainfall Map in Near Real Time'

The Earth Observation Research Center (EORC) of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has started to release image data of a high-resolution global precipitation distribution map in quasi real time (about four hours after observations) on the Internet. The map is composed by the EORC using acquired data by earth observation satellites including the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM.)

The image data is updated every hour, and can also be represented as an animated image of precipitation distribution over the last 24 hours. The establishment of this quasi real-time provision system of image data enables users to timely offer information to regions, such as developing countries in Asia, which do not have enough data on precipitation although they are often hit by typhoons and heavy rainfall.

The website uses results acquired by high time-space resolution mapping technology of the "GSMaP" project of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the TRMM onboard Precipitation Radar (PR) to calculate the volume of precipitation.

GSMaP (Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation) project is one of the projects of the research theme "Production of High Precision and High Resolution Global Precipitation Map by using Satellite Data" (led by Kenichi Okamoto, Professor, Osaka Prefecture University) in the area of "Core Research for Environment Science and Technology (CREST): Hydrological System Modeling and Water Resources System" (Research Chief: Dr. Katumi Mushiake, Professor, Fukushima University)

Visit the website: JAXA/ EORC Global Rainfall Map in Near Real Time

Source : http://www.jaxa.jp/press