This data set was obtained from National
Climatic Data Center (NCDC).
The version 2 data combines precipitation estimates from
Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) emission and
scattering algorithms, GOES Precipitation Index (GPI),
Outgoing Longwave precipitation Index (OPI), rain gauges,
and TOVS sounders on NOAA polar orbiting satellites.
The periods 1979-85; 1986-June 1987 (and December 1987);
and July 1987 - present (excluding December 1987) are
based on different ensembles of estimates. The TOVS estimate inputs
end in April 2005, and are replaced beginning in May 2005 with
estimates
from the Alliance Icing Research Study (AIRS).
A comparison of the Climate Prediction Center Merged Analysis of
Precipitation (CMAP) and GPCP merged precipitation datasets is given by:
Yin, X., A. Gruber, and P. Arkinc, 2004: Comparison of the GPCP
and CMAP Merged Gauge-Satellite Monthly Precipitation Products for the
Period 1979-2001. J. Hydromet., 5, 1207-1222.
The GPCP is managed by Arnold
Gruber, and it is a component of the Global Energy and Water Cycle
Experiment of the World Climate Research Program. GPCP is
an ongoing project, and updates and new algorithms are always being
developed, so users are advised to to check the NCDC GPCP WWW
page and NASA Goddard
Space Flight Center
to see if there is a newer product that replaces this one.
The updates of the data seem to lag reality by 2-3 months. I will not
be updating the netCDF version of this data set until I have a need
for updated data. Please send questions or
comments about the version 2 product to George Huffman.
References:
Adler, R.F., G.J. Huffman, A. Chang, R. Ferraro, P. Xie, J. Janowiak,
B. Rudolf, U. Schneider, S. Curtis, D. Bolvin, A. Gruber, J. Susskind,
P. Arkin, 2003: The Version 2 Global Precipitation Climatology Project
(GPCP) Monthly Precipitation Analysis (1979-Present). J. Hydrometeor.,
4,1147-1167.
Data:
Note 1: The GPCP algorithms are always being updated so you are advised to
check the GPCP WWW page to make sure that you are getting the latest
and greatest version of this data set.
Note 2: Error fields for the preciptation estimates are also available at
the GPCP WWW page.
binary files: National
Climatic Data Center
netCDF format
i) Precipitation rate (mm/day)
1979-2008. 7.2 Mb
ii) precitation amount (cm/month)
1979-2008, 7.2 Mb
iii) 1979-2004 climatology Maps
1-12: January, February, ...; map 13: annual mean; maps 14-17
December-January-February, March-April-May, ...
iv) The rain gauge
component of GPCP: GHCN+CAMS for 1979-85 and GPCC for
1986-present. The GPCC WWW page has this data for longer periods.
Climatology | ENSO variability
big GIF |
PDF | PS
digital values in a netCDF
file
The above figure is derived from 1988-2004 data.
Same figure, but with a grid.
big GIF |
PDF | PS
The following are the individual monthly climatologies derived for
1988-2004.
digital values in a netCDF
file (12 maps) | PDF file of the monthly
analyses
big GIF |
PDF | PS
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Typical ENSO precipitation anomalies for all calendar months combined
big GIF |
PDF | PS
The same analysis for just November through April (Northern Hemisphere
extratropics cold season)
big GIF |
PDF | PS
The same analysis for just May through October (Northern Hemisphere
extratropics warm season)
big GIF |
PDF | PS
netCDF file of correlation and
regression maps so that you can make figures for your domain.
map 1: precipitation correlation with ENSO index (cold tongue index (CTI),
similar to Nino 3.4 SST), all calendar months combined
map 2: preciptation regressed onto standard CTI (cm/month), all
calendar months combined
maps 3 and 4: as in 1 and 2, but for November through April months
maps 5 and 6: as in 1 and 2, but for May through October months
