Comparison of versions 6 and 7 3-hourly TRMM multi-satellite precipitation analysis (TMPA) research products

Abstract

This paper examines differences between Version 6 (V6) and Version 7 (V7) 3-hourly TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA 3B42) research products in JJA (June, July and August) and DJF (December, January and February) over a 13-year period from 1998 to 2010 on a global scale. Different surface types and rain regimes are considered in the comparison. The study finds that more rain events are found in V7 than those in V6 in both JJA and DJF, especially over oceans. Overall, both versions show a good agreement in moderate and heavy rain regimes. High Pearson’s correlation coefficients are found in tropical rain band regions. Histograms of both versions are very similar; however higher frequencies of rain events are found in V7 in light rain regime, especially over oceans, than those in V6. For light rain, rainfall estimates in V6 are less than those in V7 over land and oceans in both seasons. For moderate rain, rainfall estimates in V6 are larger than those in V7 over land in most years. Over oceans, it is a mixed situation in which V6>V7 for some years and V6<V7 for the other years. For heavy rain, rainfall estimates in V6 are larger than those in V7 throughout all JJA and DJF seasons for both land and oceans, which is also shown in a case study. Large variance in the individual differences is found in light rain and less in heavy rain. No apparent trends are observed. For light rain, all statistics support that there is an uncertainty issue in both versions.