A decadal climatology of oceanic precipitation derived from TOPEX and TMR

Using 9.5 years of simultaneous TOPEX and TMR (TOPEX microwave radiometer) data, a joint TOPEX/TMR precipitation index, which is generally consistent and quantitatively comparable with existing precipitation climatologies such as GPCP (global precipitation climatology project), is defined. The new TOPEX/TMR precipitation climatology, on the other hand, confirms the fundamental features of global oceanic rainfall; on the other hand, reveals a number of interesting characteristics which are previously unknown or poorly defined.