NASA Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM): Effects of tropical rainfall on upper ocean dynamics, air-sea coupling and hydrologic cycle

摘要

This was a Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) modeling, analysis and applications research project. Our broad scientific goals addressed three of the seven TRMM Priority Science Questions, specifically: What is the monthly average rainfall over the tropical ocean areas of about 10(exp 5) sq km, and how does this rain and its variability affect the structure and circulation of the tropical oceans What is the relationship between precipitation and changes in the boundary conditions at the Earth's surface (e.g., sea surface temperature, soil properties, vegetation) How can improved documentation of rainfall improve understanding of the hydrological cycle in the tropics