Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Precipitation from Space: Advancing Earth System Science

Paul A. Kucera National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado

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Elizabeth E. Ebert Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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F. Joseph Turk Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California

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Vincenzo Levizzani Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, National Research Council, Bologna, Italy

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Dalia Kirschbaum NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

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Francisco J. Tapiador Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Biochemistry, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain

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Alexander Loew Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Hamburg, Germany

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M. Borsche Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Hamburg, Germany

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Online Publication:
01 Mar 2013
Print Publication:
01 Mar 2013
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-11-00171.1
Page(s):
365–375
Restricted access

Advances to space-based observing systems and data processing techniques have made precipitation datasets quickly and easily available via various data portals and widely used in Earth sciences. The increasingly lengthy time span of space-based precipitation data records has enabled cross-discipline investigations and applications that would otherwise not be possible, revealing discoveries related to hydrological and land processes, climate, atmospheric composition, and ocean freshwater budget and proving a vital element in addressing societal issues. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how the availability and continuity of precipitation data records from recent and upcoming space missions is transforming the ways that scientific and societal issues are addressed, in ways that would not be otherwise possible.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Paul A. Kucera, Research Applications Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, 3450 Mitchell Lane, Boulder, CO 80307-3000 E-mail: pkucera@ucar.edu

Advances to space-based observing systems and data processing techniques have made precipitation datasets quickly and easily available via various data portals and widely used in Earth sciences. The increasingly lengthy time span of space-based precipitation data records has enabled cross-discipline investigations and applications that would otherwise not be possible, revealing discoveries related to hydrological and land processes, climate, atmospheric composition, and ocean freshwater budget and proving a vital element in addressing societal issues. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how the availability and continuity of precipitation data records from recent and upcoming space missions is transforming the ways that scientific and societal issues are addressed, in ways that would not be otherwise possible.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Paul A. Kucera, Research Applications Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, 3450 Mitchell Lane, Boulder, CO 80307-3000 E-mail: pkucera@ucar.edu
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