A10 Convective Systems Observed During TRMM Field Campaigns

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) will have completed three years in orbit at the time of the Fall 2000 AGU meeting. A summary of research highlights will be presented focusing on application of TRMM data to topics ranging from climate analysis, through improving forecasts to microphysical research. Surface rainfall estimates based on different instruments on TRMM currently differ by 20%. The difference is not surprising considering the different type of observations available for the first time with TRMM through both the passive and active microwave sensors. Resolving that difference will strengthen the validity and utility of ocean rainfall estimates and is the topic of ongoing research utilizing various facets of the TRMM validation and field experiment programs. The TRMM rainfall estimates will be intercompared among themselves and with other estimates, including those of the standard, monthly Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) analysis. The GPCP analysis agrees roughly in magnitude with the passive microwave-based TRMM estimates which is not surprising considering GPCP over-ocean estimates are based on passive microwave observations. A summary of validation of TRMM estimates against raingauge and radar/raingauge analyses will be presented. At finer time scales results of merging TRMM, other passive microwave observations, and geosynchronous estimates into a 3-hour time resolution analysis will be described.