The article describes how latent heating (LH) profiles are derived from satellite precipitation rate retrievals made with the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite measurements. Latent heating is the principal source of energy in the propagation, vertical structure, creation, and growth of tropical waves. The TRMM satellite is an international cooperation effort in rainfall research involving the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).