TRMM common microphysics products: A tool for evaluating spaceborne precipitation retrieval algorithms

A customized product for analysis of microphysics data collected from aircraft during field campaigns in support of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) program is described. These "common microphysics products" (CMPs) are designed to aid in evaluation of TRMM spaceborne precipitation retrieval algorithms. Information needed for this purpose (e.g., particle size spectra and habit, liquid and ice water content) was derived by using a common processing strategy on the wide variety of microphysical instruments and raw native data formats employed in the field campaigns. The CMPs are organized into an American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) structure to allow easy access to the data for those less familiar with microphysical data processing and without the tools to accomplish it. Detailed examples of the CMP show its potential and some of its limitations. This approach may be a first step toward developing a generalized microphysics format and an associated community-oriented, nonproprietary software package for microphysics data processing-initiatives that would likely broaden community access to, and use of, microphysics datasets.