Five Years of GPM Storms

The NASA JAXA Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM), launched in 2014, has revolutionized our understanding of precipitation by providing detailed 3D views of storms. Key observations include Super Typhoon Vongfong, Hurricane Harvey, and Hurricane Ophelia, each offering unique insights into storm dynamics. The mission also captured the 2018 bomb cyclone, highlighting rapid intensification similar to hurricanes. GPM's Imerge product integrates data from multiple satellites, offering a comprehensive global view of precipitation patterns, enhancing our understanding of storm formation and intensity.

What significant weather event did the GPM core satellite capture shortly after its launch in 2014?

• Hurricane Sandy

• Cyclone Nargis

• Super Typhoon Vongfong

• Hurricane Katrina

What was unique about Hurricane Ophelia during the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season?

• It was the strongest hurricane ever recorded.

• It formed from a decaying extratropical frontal system.

• It was the first hurricane to hit the United States.

• It dissipated before reaching land.

What term is used to describe the rapid intensification of a snowstorm similar to a hurricane?

• Cyclone burst

• Hurricane transition

• Bomb cyclone

• Storm surge

What is the primary function of the Imerge product in the GPM mission?

• To track wind speeds

• To predict future weather patterns

• To measure ocean temperatures

• To provide detailed global precipitation maps

How has GPM data advanced our understanding of hurricanes over the past five years?

• By measuring sea levels

• By tracking wind speeds

• By demonstrating raindrop distribution inside storms

• By predicting hurricane paths