Attendees of the 2019 PMM Science Team Meeting

PMM Science Team

Overview

The NASA Precipitation Measurement Missions (PMM) Science Team conducts scientific research (including algorithm development, mission implementation, product validation, and data utilization) in support of TRMM and GPM Missions. The team comprises scientists funded by NASA and international investigators selected by NASA on the basis of no exchange of funds.

Sections

PMM Science Program Management Team

Name Organization Title
Dr. Gail Skofronick-Jackson NASA Headquarters GPM Program Scientist
Dr. Scott A. Braun NASA Goddard Space Flight Center GPM Project Scientist and PMM Science Team Lead
Dr. George J. Huffman NASA Goddard Space Flight Center GPM Deputy Project Scientist
Dr. Erich F. Stocker NASA Goddard Space Flight Center GPM Deputy Project Scientist for Data and Precipitation Processing System Project Manager
Dr. Walter A. Petersen NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Deputy Project Scientist, Ground Validation
David B. Wolff NASA Wallops Flight Facility GPM Ground Validation System Manager
Dr. Dalia B. Kirschbaum NASA Goddard Space Flight Center GPM Associate Deputy Project Scientist for Applications

PMM Principal Investigators and Proposal Titles (2019 - 2021)

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Attendees of the 2019 PMM Science Team Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana. 

Last Name First Name Affiliation Proposal Title
Adams Ian Goddard Space Flight Center Scattering Assessment for Precipitating Particles (SAPP): Evaluating and Characterizing Hydrometeor Habit and Scattering Models 
Barros Ana Duke University Microphysics, Vertical Structure and Scaling of Orographic Precipitation Across the Global Tropics 
Berg Wesley Colorado State University Enhancing Consistency and Quantifying Precipitation Uncertainties for an Evolving Radiometer Constellation 
Chandrasekar Chandra V. Colorado State University GPM Global Observations and Precipitation Microphysics: Algorithm Support, Enhancement, Cross Validation, and Application
Del Genio Anthony NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Analyses of Organized Convective System Sizes, Durations and Diabatic Heating Profiles to Inform GCM Development 
Durden Stephen Jet Propulsion Laboratory DPR Retrievals over Land – Validation and Improvement
Fenni Ines University of California, Los Angeles Efficient and Accurate Calculation of Single-Scattering Properties of Realistic Hydrometeors for Better Interpretation of Microwave Observations 
Foufoula-Georgiou Efi University of California, Irvine Improving GPM Passive Microwave Retrieval and Multi-Sensor Merging: a Nonlocal Formulation Accounting for the 3D Structure of Rain 
Funk Chris University of California, Santa Barbara  Ag Out – An Enhanced IMERG-based Agricultural Outlook System to Support Food Security and Agriculture in the Developing World 
Gebremichael Mekonnen  University of California, Los Angeles  Improved Application of GPM IMERG Rainfall for Maximizing Power Generation in East Africa 
Grecu Mircea  Morgan State University Improved Detection and Quantification of Precipitation by the TRMM/GPM Combined Algorithm
Heymsfield Gerald NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Organizational and Structural Characterization of Precipitating System in Cold and Warm Regimes over Orographic Regions Using Observations and Models 
Kidd Christopher University of Maryland, College Park Advancing Precipitation Retrievals from Cross-Track Passive Microwave Sensors 
Kim Min-Jeong Morgan State University Satellite Data Assimilated 4D Global Precipitation Products from the GEOS System in Support of the GPM Mission 
Kirschbaum Dalia NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Characterizing and Communicating Global IMERG Error Estimates for End User Applications 
Kirstetter Pierre-Emmanuel University of Oklahoma, Norman Bridging the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Level II and Level III precipitation Using Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor-GPM (MRMS-GPM) 
Kulie Mark University of Wisconsin, Madison GPM Snowfall Retrieval Improvements:  A Multifaceted Approach Using New Algorithm Components and Ground-Based Observations
Kummerow Christian Colorado State University Understanding GMI Observations in Orographic Precipitation  Rain and Snow 
Li Xiaowen Morgan State University  Active Convective Cores and Their Organization Observed by GPM Satellite and Applications to Improving Cloud-Resolving Simulations 
Liao Liang  University of Maryland Baltimore County Studies on Single- and Dual-Wavelength DPR Retrievals: Algorithm Development, Evaluation and Validation 
Liu Chuntao  Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi  Toward Monitoring Global Intense Convection Using Assive Microwave Satellite Observations
Liu Guosheng  Florida State University  Improving Algorithm Components Related to Ice and Snow for GPM Precipitation Retrievals 
Mace Gerald University of Utah, Salt Lake City Surface-Observed Precipitation over the Southern Ocean from the RV Investigator:  Evaluation of Processes and Comparison with GPM 
Martin Elinor  University of Oklahoma, Norman Analysis of TRMM-GPM Observations to Improve Process-Level Understanding and Modeling of Precipitation and Latent Heating in Tropical Easterly Waves 
Matsui Toshihisa  University of Maryland, College Park  Systematic Storm-Scale Simulations and Observations from the  NASA Wallops Precipitation Research Facility 
McPartland Linette  Goddard Space Flight Center  Using GPM in an Optimal Estimation Lagrangian Framework (OELaF) to Quantify Moisture Transport in Arctic Cyclones 
Nesbitt Stephen University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Using GPM Ground Validation Data for Improved Precipitation Retrievals of Ice and Mixed Phase Precipitation 
Oreopoulos Lazaros  Goddard Space Flight Center  Combined Analysis of GPM and MODIS Datasets to Unveil the Climatological Relationships Between Clouds and Precipitation 
Pettersen Claire  University of Wisconsin, Madison  Leveraging GPM and Ground-Based Measurements to Examine High-Latitude Extreme Precipitation
Rapp Anita  Texas A & M, College Station Towards Understanding Variability in Precipitation-Anvil Area Relationships 
Reed Kevin  State University of New York, Stony Brook  Quantifying the Link Between Organized Convection and Extreme Precipitation 
Rutledge Steven  Colorado State University  Cloud Microphysical Studies and Precipitation Estimation Using GPM 
Schumacher Courtney  Texas A & M, College Station  Analysis of Overturning Meridional Circulations Across the Tropics Using TRMM PR and GPM DPR Observations and a GCM Precipitation Radar Simulator 
Tanelli Simone  Jet Propulsion Laboratory  Experimental Solver for DPR measurements Affected by Higher-Order Effects 
Tavakoly Ahmad  University of Maryland, College Park  Enabling the U.S. Army Streamflow Prediction Tool to Utilize GPM Products in Operation 
Thompson Elizabeth  University of Washington, Seattle  Comparison of Oceanic Acoustic Rain Measurements with Downscaled IMERG Rainfall for the Study of Air-Sea Interaction
Turk Francis  Jet Propulsion Laboratory  Establishing Self-Consistency Amongst Precipitation Estimates from Constellation Radiometers to Account for Surface and Environmental Variability Throughout the TRMM+GPM Era 
Williams Christopher  University of Colorado, Boulder  Analyzing NASA Ground Validation Observations to Quantify the Impact of Precipitation Non-Uniform Beam Filling (NUBF) on Satellite Rainfall Retrieval Algorithms
Wood Norman  University of Wisconsin, Madison  Investigating Orographic Snowfall Processing over Complex Terrain on the DPR Domain 
Zhang Fuqing  Pennsylvania State University  Advanced Hurricane Analysis and Prediction Through Convection-Allowing Ensemble Assimilation of Multi-Sensor All-Sky Satellite Radiance Observations 

PMM Principal Investigators funded under NASA Internal Work Packages

GPM Algorithm Work Packages (Jan 2018 Summary)

NASA Headquarters has authorized a new funding strategy called "Work Packages" whereby key Principal Investigators at NASA centers who are repeatedly funded under ROSES calls are preselected outside of the ROSES call. This is a listing of the approved Work Package Principal Investigators and their topics for the 10th PMM ROSES Science Team (nominally 2018-2020).

Principal Investigator Title Task Summary
Cecil, Daniel Better Understanding GPM Radiometer Measurements Using Ground-Based Radar GPM, TRMM and related satellites have observed a huge number of precipitating systems around the globe. Pairing high-quality ground-based radar data with coincident satellite observations helps us learn to better interpret the satellite data, and to apply that understanding to satellite observations from otherwise data-sparse regions. This work aims to (a) improve understanding of how different hydrometeor types (and their vertical profiles and amounts) relate to observed satellite measurements; (b) investigate precipitation retrieval quality (error characteristics and biases) associated with particular hydrometeor types or profiles; (c) investigate characteristics of precipitation systems (and their related weather and climate patterns) around the globe.

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Huffman, George Extending the IMERG Multi-Sensor Level 3 Precipitation Product into Polar Regions

Comprehensive science algorithm development, implementation, maintenance, and validation, including user support, for quasi-global combined-satellite precipitation estimates at fine time/space scales, both in near-real and post-real time. This work includes extending the Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) to polar regions.

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Meneghini, Robert Path Attenuation Estimates from the Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar

Development, scientific enhancement and validation of the Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) Surface Reference Technique (SRT) will be pursued by extending the dual-frequency version of the method (DSRT) to the new proposed scan geometry.  In addition, hybrid path attenuation estimates will be formulated by merging the SRT with the the Hitschfeld-Bordan (HB) method of attenuation correction, which performs well at light rain rates. Tests of the performance of the hybrid estimates will be done by adding new code and new output variables to existing operational codes.

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Munchak, Stephen   Improved Representation of Active and Passive Surface Characteristics in the GPM DPR-GMI Combined Precipitation Algorithm

Continue to improve representation of surface properties through physical and statistical models that account for correlated properties of emissivity and radar backscatter in the CORRA forward model. Integrate retrievals of surface and atmospheric state (including ocean surface wind, land emissivity, water vapor, clouds, and light precipitation) in regions where DPR does not detect precipitation.

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Olson, William Continued Development and Validation of Ice- and Mixed-Phase Precipitation Models for the GPM Combined Radar-Radiometer Algorithm

The overall effort is aimed at the development, delivery, maintenance, and validation of the Combined Radar-Radiometer Algorithm (CORRA) by improving the physical parameterizations of precipitation in all phases.  The science emphasis will be on the further exploitation of non-spherical ice and mixed-phase precipitation particle models, as well as particle size/habit distribution evolution simulations, to support improved descriptions of the bulk radiative properties of these precipitation types in the algorithm. Precipitation phase transitions in stratiform, convective, and near-convective regimes will be addressed. Validation of particle models will employ airborne remote sensing and in situ data from recent field campaigns, as well as GPM DPR-GMI data and coincident ground observations.

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Petersen, Walter Validation of GPM Precipitation Retrieval Algorithms across the Precipitation Continuum

Existing GPM-GV field and Validation Network datasets collected in warm and cold-season regimes are used to relate 3-D precipitation character and process variability to GPM retrieval algorithm constraints and performance. GV polarimetric radar and disdrometer-derived quantities of precipitation rate/content, type (rain, snow, convective, stratiform), and size distribution are processed and analyzed to relate dominant inter- and intra-footprint scale precipitation process/parameter variability to performance and improvement of key GPM algorithm components including path integrated attenuation, non uniform beam filling, retrieval of the rain drop size distribution, and estimation of rain and snow water-equivalent rates.

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Peters-Lidard, Christa Dynamic Emissivity Estimates to Support Physical Precipitation Retrievals for GPM (continued)

This work will provide dynamic emissivity estimates over land surfaces to support physical precipitation retrievals for GPM. The dynamic emissivity approaches include physical variables such as leaf area index and soil moisture as well as empirical combinations of channel brightness temperatures, including their time variations. These global emissivity estimates are to be integrated and tested within the GMI GPROF algorithm.

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Tao, Wei-Kuo Advancing the Retrieval of Latent Heating for PMM with Improved Simulations of Convective, Synoptic, and Cold Season Systems and their Associated Microphysical and Precipitation Processes

This work includes improving simulations/models for a wide range of precipitating cloud systems, from weak, unorganized isolated rain showers to intense mesoscale convective precipitation systems to large-scale synoptic snow storms, and their associated precipitation structures, latent heat release profiles and cloud microphysical processes.  Data from GPM field campaigns will be used to validate and improve the microphysical processes in the high-resolution numerical models.  Consequently, this work also expands and improves the performance of the Goddard Convective-Stratiform Heating (CSH) algorithm for the TRMM and GPM eras by using the improved model simulated latent heating, radiation and surface rain/snowfall data.

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PMM / GPM International Collaborator Team

Leveraging of GPM international partner research activities and infrastructure enables coordinated global precipitation remote sensing research and ground validation activities to be conducted. Here “global” refers to both geography and precipitation regime- enabling gap-filling observations and complementary research to more completely validate satellite observations around the globe. Within this framework specific collaborations between PMM Science Team investigators, GPM GV, and international partners have been sought. Currently active * collaborations are outlined in the below table.

Country Investigators Focus
Argentina P. Salio Ground validation of in a sub-tropical convective precipitation environment
Australia P. May, A. Protat Land/Sea-based direct GV, precipitation process studies and field measurements in the southern hemisphere tropics and mid-latitudes
Austria J. Fuchsberger, G. Kirchenghast, S. O Ground validation and rain variability in the mid-latitudes using the dense WegenerNet network
Belgium S. Lhermitte Snow process studies and measurement, Antarctica
Brazil L. Machado, D. Vila, C. Angelis Ground validation and storm system process studies in the tropics/sub-tropics, field measurements
Canada D. Hudak, P. Joe (WMO) Ground validation, snow process studies and field measurements in the mid and high-latitudes
Colombia G. Poveda Validation of the TRMM and GPM precipitation products using information from raingauges in Colombia
European Union (ECMWF) P. Bauer, A. Geer GPM data for model data assimilation
Finland A.-M. Harri, D. Moisseev, A. von Lerber Ground validation, snow process studies and field measurements, High-Latitudes
France R. Roca, N. Viltard, F. Aires Megha Tropiques Mission, data and algorithms, global land surface emission (Aires)
France G. Delrieu Cooperation in the Hydrological Cycle Mediterranean Experiment
Italy G. Pannegrossi, V. Levizzani (IPWG), L. Baldina, S. Puca, G. Vulpiani HSAF precipitation retrieval algorithms, ground-validation, GV radar calibration/measurement practices, mid-latitude Mediterranean region
Korea G. Ryu, G. Lee, S. Joo Ground validation, precipitation process studies and field measurement (rain, orographic snow), mid-latitudes land/sea.
Korea KD. Ahn, G. Lee and S. Joo  ICE-POP collaboration in study of winter precipitation

Netherlands

H. Leijnse (KNMI), R. Uijlenhoet Validation of Satellite Based Precipitation Estimates in the Netherlands
Portugal Vasco Mantas Ground validation, ecologic applications, dissemination tools.
Spain F. Tapiador Ground Validation, precipitation character and variability, field measurements, mid-latitudes
Switzerland A. Berne Ground validation, precipitation field measurements, Alpine orographic snow processes, mid-latitudes
United Kingdom A. Battaglia Active/passive radiative modeling, multiple scattering processes, field measurements, physical ground-validation
United Kingdom J. Crosier GPM Validation in the United Kingdom

* Note: The formal list of collaborators is dynamic, often a function of partner funding status and guided research focus.

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