But the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite can indirectly give researchers information about the heat by how much rain falls in the tropics, where it falls and when it falls. The satellite was launched on Nov. 27, 1997. As a special bonus we're getting all kinds of information on hurricanes that we could not get in any other way. Its fascinating what you can see. TRMM is part of NASA's Mission to Planet Earth research.
Tropical rainfall comprises more than two-thirds of global rainfall.
More precise information about this rainfall and its variability is crucial to understanding and predicting not only weather in the tropics, but also weather elsewhere on Earth. Data gathered by the satellite should also help scientists learn more about global climate change. Work that she and Herbert Riehl did in the 1950s showed 'large clouds in the tropics are, in fact, the cylinders of the automobile that is the atmospheric heat engine.