摘要: The quantification of precipitation on a global scale is critical for applications ranging from climate monitoring to water resource management. Conventional observations through surface gauge networks provide the most direct measure precipitation, although these are very much limited land areas, with few in situ measurements over oceans. Weather radars, providing spatial extent and number. Satellite offer an unrivalled vantage point observe basis. Since spatially temporally highly variable, satellites able temporal samples commensurate many characteristics. This paper provides overall review estimation, outline conventional measurements, basis satellite systems used observation generation, availability validation derived products. Finally, future missions presented. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society