GPM GAG V05 Data Format


File name

PIERS-0007_B-2025.gag.V05.txt

PIERS    Rain gauge network
         In this case, PIERS stands for Precipitation Instrument Evaluation and Research Sites, 
         named in honor of Piers Sellers — a NASA astronaut and climate scientist renowned 
         for his contributions to Earth science and space exploration.
0007_B   Rain gauge ID. Each gauge is equipped with two buckets, labeled 'A' and 'B' 
2025     Year  
gag      Product ID (reformated gauge tip data) 
V05      Version number
txt      Text format
 

File header

2025 PIERS 0007_B MetOne 0.254 mm

2015 PIERS 0007_B      Same as in file name 
MetOne                 Gauge type
0.254 mm               Gauge bucket size

Data format

Year Mon Day Jday Hr Min Sec Rain[mm]   Lat        Lon
........................................................
2025  01  03  003 21  30  00  0.000  37.91287  -75.57986                                                                 
2025  01  03  003 21  45  00  0.000  37.91287  -75.57986                                                                 
2025  01  03  003 22  00  00  0.000  37.91287  -75.57986                                                                 
2025  01  03  003 22  15  00  0.000  37.91287  -75.57986                                                                 
2025  01  03  003 22  30  00  0.000  37.91287  -75.57986                                                                 
2025  01  03  003 22  45  00  0.000  37.91287  -75.57986                                                                 
2025  01  03  003 23  00  00  0.000  37.91287  -75.57986                                                                 
2025  01  03  003 23  15  00  0.000  37.91287  -75.57986                                                                 
2025  01  03  003 23  19  48  0.254  37.91287  -75.57986                                                                 
2025  01  03  003 23  44  55  0.254  37.91287  -75.57986                                                                 
2025  01  04  004 00  00  00  0.000  37.91287  -75.57986                                                                 
2025  01  04  004 00  30  00  0.000  37.91287  -75.57986                                                                 
2025  01  04  004 00  45  00  0.000  37.91287  -75.57986         
........................................................
2025  01  06  006 16  42  18  0.254  37.91287  -75.57986                                                                 
2025  01  06  006 17  00  00 -9.999 -99.99999 -999.99999                                                                 
2025  01  06  006 17  05  19  1.016  37.91287  -75.57986 Q                                                               
2025  01  06  006 17  08  07  0.254  37.91287  -75.57986                                                                 
2025  01  06  006 17  12  38  0.254  37.91287  -75.57986                                                                 
2025  01  06  006 17  30  00 -9.999 -99.99999 -999.99999                                                                 
2025  01  06  006 17  45  00 -9.999 -99.99999 -999.99999                                                                 
2025  01  06  006 18  00  00 -9.999 -99.99999 -999.99999                                                                 
2025  01  06  006 18  15  00 -9.999 -99.99999 -999.99999                                                                 
2025  01  06  006 18  30  00 -9.999 -99.99999 -999.99999                                                                 
2025  01  06  006 18  45  00 -9.999 -99.99999 -999.99999                                                                 
2025  01  06  006 19  00  00 -9.999 -99.99999 -999.99999                                                                 
2025  01  06  006 19  04  37  5.588  37.91287  -75.57986 Q                                                               
2025  01  06  006 19  17  04  0.254  37.91287  -75.57986                                                                 
2025  01  06  006 19  29  49  0.254  37.91287  -75.57986  
........................................................    

There are 11 data fields:
 1) year 
 2) month
 3) day of month
 4) Julian Day of year
 5) hour in UTC 
 6) minute 
 7) second 
 8) rain[mm]  (eg. 1 tip = 0.254 mm).  
    "0.000" indicates no rain, while "-9.999" represents missing data for each 15-minute interval.
 9) Latitude  in degree.  missing: -99.99999
10) Longitude in degree.  missing: -999.99999
11) Q: questionable. 
    Typically occurs after missing data, where multiple tips could be accumulated into a single entry.