Hydrological Sciences

Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)

Class:

Flight Project

Status:

Past

Organizations:

Launch Date:

November 1997

WEBSITE:

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) was a joint effort between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency designed to monitor and study tropical rainfall. Launched on November 27, 1997, TRMM was particularly devoted to determining rainfall in the tropics and subtropics of the Earth. These regions make up about two thirds of the total rainfall on Earth and are responsible for driving our weather and climate system. TRMM contributed to a better understanding of where and how much the winds blow, where the clouds form and rain occurs, where floods and droughts occurr, and how the winds drive the ocean currents. TRMM did this not just by providing rainfall data but, more importantly, by providing information on heat released into the atmosphere as part of the process that leads to rain. The TRMM mission ended in 2015 and final TRMM Multi-satellite Precipitation Analyses data processing ended with December 31, 2019.

Key Staff
    Image of TRMM satellite over hurricane