How to Obtain Rainfall Data NetCDF

Overview: 

NetCDF (Network Common Data Form) data format is popularly used in Earth science modeling and application communities.  Obtaining data in NetCDF format is available in Mirador service for some datasets at GES DISC, such as products from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), Global and North American Land Data Assimilation Systems (GLDAS and NLDAS), etc. This recipe provides as example demonstrating how to download data in NetCDF format through the Mirador data search and order service.

Best When: 

For users interested in obtaining entire data files in the NetCDF format.

Task: 

Obtaining Data

Example: 

The original data format of precipitation data products from TRMM is the Hierarchical Data Format (HDF).  This recipe shows how to download monthly TRMM data in NetCDF format for the period of Jun-Aug 2009.


complete the following procedure

Start Mirador at http://mirador.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  There are different form of Data set in mirador, but the latest is 3B42 whch is daily rainfall per month and 3B43 for monthly data. Note: The Value is average Hourly data for the whole world with resolution of 0.25deg resolution(over 27km). if you ar converting 3B43 data, you have to multiply it by number of hours in that month to get the total value

• Click on HELP CENTER ==> For more

2.On the keyword barType 3B43 for monthly data or 3B42 for daily data
  Then click SEARCH GESDESC
















Click on  DATA Calendar tab click the year you need



Some result list will be displayed (eg 3b43 20140101, 2014year, 01, month. click the netcdf of the year you need. The download Starts immediately



You can also DOWNLOAD TUTORIAL PDF of how to convert netcdf(.nc extension) to raster in ArcGIS