NASA just released a new video showing how the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission works.

GPM provides 3D maps of rainfall and snowfall all over the globe. It specifically showed precipitation from April to September 2014.

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The video featured Hurricane Arthur as it developed into a tropical storm over the Atlantic Ocean from July 2 to 4, 2014. Storms are usually seen between 60 degrees north latitude and 60 degrees below the equator, from the northwest regions of Canada down beyond the south coast of Argentina.

Launched February 27, 2014, the GPM Core Observatory coordinates data from a dozen weather satellites focused on measuring precipitation around the planet. After gathering data from all the observatories, GPM produces a single map called Imerg (Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals) for GPM.

The composite map possesses a resolution of five miles by five miles. Snow and precipitation weather patterns are updated every 30 minutes. This is the first mission to ever consolidate data from international satellites all over the globe and monitor rain and snow in real time.

The map shows imagery of deep tropical convective storms along the equator as these evaporate heat from the ocean's surface and then transports it higher into the atmosphere to complete the weather cycle, according to Gail Skofronick-Jackson of the Goddard Space Flight Center.

These large frontal systems can last for days at middle latitudes and stir heat and water movement across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Apart from detecting and measuring precipitation, GPM can also determine the exact shape of raindrops using an advanced radar instrument aboard the GPM Core Observatory.

The instrument presents the true shape of raindrops. Most people believe they're shaped like teardrops but in reality, they're shaped like hamburger buns when they fall.

This shape can link to a better understanding of patterns of precipitation. Heavy rainfall is apparently linked to flatter and heavier drops than light rain showers.

NASA has launched five Earth observing satellites last year, including the GPM Core Observatory. Apart from precipitation, the GPM can also measure carbon dioxide and ocean winds from the many weather observatories across the world.

TagsNASA Satellites Reveal First Global Rainfall Map of Earth Updated Real Time, NASA, GPM, NASA GPM mission, global warming, NASA global earth satellites rainfall snowfall map precipitation