PR

Precipitation Radar

Satellite

TRMM

Status

Operational – Utilised in the period 1997 to ~ 2009

Mission

Vertical profile of precipitation

Instrument type

Imaging radar, frequency 13.8 GHz,

Scanning technique

Electronic scanning, planar array of 128 elements, swath 215 km

Coverage/cycle

Intertropical coverage 1 to 2 times/day depending on latitude (best coverage at 15°N and 15°S)

Resolution (s.s.p.)

Horizontal 4.3 km, vertical 250 m (blind to the lowest ~ 150 m)

Resources

Mass: 465 kg - Power: 250 W - Data rate: 93.2 kbps