* Astronomy

The Earth Observation Research Centre (EORC) of the Japan Aerospace  Exploration Agency (JAXA) has started to release image data of a high-resolution global precipitation distribution map in quasi real time  (about four hours after observations) on the Internet.
The map is  composed by the EORC using acquired data by earth observation  satellites including the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM.) The image data is updated every hour, and you can also see the  animated image of precipitation distribution over the last 24 hours. The establishment of this quasi real-time provision system of image  data enables JAXA to timely offer information to regions, such as  developing countries in Asia, which do not have enough data on  precipitation although they are often hit by typhoons and heavy  rainfall.
To calculate the volume of precipitation, JAXA use the cutting-edge  research results acquired by high time-space resolution mapping  technology of the "GSMaP" project* of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the TRMM onboard Precipitation Radar (PR.)

* GSMaP (Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation) project One of the projects of the research theme "Production of High  Precision and High Resolution Global Precipitation Map by using  Satellite Data" (led by Kenichi Okamoto, Professor, Osaka Prefecture  University) in the area of "Core Research for Environment Science and  Technology (CREST): Hydrological System Modelling and Water Resources  System" (Research Chief: Dr. Katumi Mushiake, Professor, Fukushima  University)

JAXA/ EORC Global Rainfall Map in Near Real Time

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