The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) is a joint mission between NASA and the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan to study tropical rainfall and the vertical gradient of heating caused by precipitating cloud systems. The TRMM satellite was launched November 27, 1998 and contains a unique combination of instrumentation, including the first quantitative spaceborne Precipitation Radar (PR), a multi-channel passive Microwave Radiometer (TMI), a Visible and Infrared Scanner (VIRS), a Cloud and Earth Radiant Energy System (CERES), and a Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS).

TRMM Launch-related publications

Simpson, J. S., 1988: A satellite mission to measure tropical rainfall. NASA, 94 pp.

Kummerow, C., W. Barnes, T. Kozu, J. shiue, and J. Simpson, 1998: The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) sensor package. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 15, 809-817.

Kummerow, C., J. Simpson, O. Thiele, W. Barnes, A. T. C. Chang, E. Stocker, R. F. Adler, A. Hou, R. Kakar, F. Wentz, P. Ashcroft, T. Kozu, Y. Hong, K. Okamoto, T. Iguchi, H. Kuroiwa, E. Im, Z. Haddad, G. Huffman, B. Ferrier, W. S. Olson, E. Zipser, E. A. Smith, T. T. Wilheit, G. North, T. Krishnamurti and K. Nakamura, 2000: The status of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) after two years in orbit. J. Appl. Meteor., 39, 12, 1965-1982.