GPM Scans Typhoon Phanfone

  • Released Tuesday, October 7, 2014
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Animation revealing a swath of GPM/GMI precipitation rates over Typhoon Phanfone. The camera then moves down closer to the storm to reveal DPR's volumetric view of Phanphone. A slicing plane dissects the Typhoon from south to north and back again, revealing it's inner precipitation rates. Shades of blue indicate frozen precipitation (in the upper atmosphere). Shades of green to red are liquid precipitation which extend down to the ground.

On October 6, 2014 (0215 UTC) the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission's Core Observatory flew over Typhoon Phanfone as it made landfall over Tokyo, Japan. At this point, Typhoon Phanfone is category 3 with maximum sustained winds at 127 miles per hour (mph) and gusts reaching 155 mph. Phanfone caused landslides and flooding throughout Japan.

The GPM Core Observatory carries two instruments that show the location and intensity of rain and snow, which defines a crucial part of the storm structure – and how it will behave. The GPM Microwave Imager sees through the tops of clouds to observe how much and where precipitation occurs, and the Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar observes precise details of precipitation in 3-dimensions.

For forecasters, GPM's microwave and radar data are part of the toolbox of satellite data, including other low Earth orbit and geostationary satellites, that they use to monitor tropical cyclones and hurricanes.

The addition of GPM data to the current suite of satellite data is timely. Its predecessor precipitation satellite, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, is 18 years into what was originally a three-year mission. GPM's new high-resolution microwave imager data and the unique radar data ensure that forecasters and modelers won't have a gap in coverage. GPM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. All GPM data products can be found at NASA Goddard's Precipitation Processing Center website.

Colorbar for frozen precipitation rates (ie, snow rates). Shades of cyan represent low amounts of frozen precipitation, whereas shades of purple represent high amounts of precipitation.

Colorbar for frozen precipitation rates (ie, snow rates). Shades of cyan represent low amounts of frozen precipitation, whereas shades of purple represent high amounts of precipitation.

Colorbar for liquid precipitation rates (ie, rain rates). Shades of green represent low amounts of liquid precipitation, whereas shades of red represent high amounts of precipitation.

Colorbar for liquid precipitation rates (ie, rain rates). Shades of green represent low amounts of liquid precipitation, whereas shades of red represent high amounts of precipitation.

Print resolution still of the Earth at night overlooking Eastern Asia.

Print resolution still of the Earth at night overlooking Eastern Asia.

Print resolution still of GPM's pass over Typhoon Phanfone and precipitation over the western Pacific Ocean.

Print resolution still of GPM's pass over Typhoon Phanfone and precipitation over the western Pacific Ocean.

Print resolution still of GPM/GMI rain rate data over Japan on October 6, 2014 02:25 UTC.

Print resolution still of GPM/GMI rain rate data over Japan on October 6, 2014 02:25 UTC.

Print resolution still of GPM GMI and DPR rain rates over Japan on October 6, 2014 02:15 UTC.

Print resolution still of GPM GMI and DPR rain rates over Japan on October 6, 2014 02:15 UTC.

Print resolution still of GPM GMI and DPR data showing a northward view of Typhoon Phanfone's rain rates over Japan.

Print resolution still of GPM GMI and DPR data showing a northward view of Typhoon Phanfone's rain rates over Japan.

Print resolution still of Typhoon Phanfone being scanned through the center of the DPR data showing the inner volumetric rain rates. Note: Tokyo is immediately to the left of the scan.

Print resolution still of Typhoon Phanfone being scanned through the center of the DPR data showing the inner volumetric rain rates. Note: Tokyo is immediately to the left of the scan.

Print resolution still showing a side on view of Typhoon Phanfone over Japan on October 6, 2014 at 02:15 UTC.

Print resolution still showing a side on view of Typhoon Phanfone over Japan on October 6, 2014 at 02:15 UTC.

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

This page was originally published on Tuesday, October 7, 2014.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:50 PM EDT.

Missions

This visualization is related to the following missions:

Series

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Datasets used in this visualization

  • Rain Rates (Surface Precipitation) [GPM: GMI]

    ID: 822
    Sensor: GMI Dates used: 10/6/2014 02:01 - 03:01 UTC

    Credit: Data provided by the joint NASA/JAXA GPM mission.

    See all pages that use this dataset

  • Volumetric Precipitation data (Ku) [GPM: DPR]

    ID: 830
    Type: Observed Data Sensor: DPR Dates used: 10/6/2014 02:11 - 02:41 UTC

    Credit: Data provided by the joint NASA/JAXA GPM mission.

    See all pages that use this dataset

Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details, nor the data sets themselves on our site.