scholarly journals Evaluation of Global Satellite Rainfall Products over Continental Europe

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 588-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Stampoulis ◽  
Emmanouil N. Anagnostou

Abstract An extensive evaluation of two global-scale high-resolution satellite rainfall products is performed using 8 yr (2003–10) of reference rainfall data derived from a network of rain gauges over Europe. The comparisons are performed at a daily temporal scale and 0.25° spatial grid resolution. The satellite rainfall techniques investigated in this study are the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) 3B42 V6 (gauge-calibrated version) and the Climate Prediction Center morphing technique (CMORPH). The intercomparison and validation of these satellite products is performed both qualitatively and quantitatively. In the qualitative part of the analysis, error maps of various validation statistics are shown, whereas the quantitative analysis provides information about the performance of the satellite products relative to the rainfall magnitude or ground elevation. Moreover, a time series analysis of certain error statistics is used to depict the temporal variations of the accuracy of the two satellite techniques. The topographical and seasonal influences on the performance of the two satellite products over the European domain are also investigated. The error statistics presented herein indicate that both orography and seasonal variability affect the efficiency of the satellite rainfall retrieval techniques. Specifically, both satellite techniques underestimate rainfall over higher elevations, especially during the cold season, and their performance is subject to seasonal changes. A significant difference between the two satellite products is that TRMM 3B42 V6 generally overestimates rainfall, while CMORPH underestimates it. CMORPH’s mean error is shown to be of higher magnitude than that of 3B42 V6, while in terms of random error variance, CMORPH exhibits lower (higher) values than those of 3B42 V6 in the winter (summer) months.

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1194-1211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viviana Maggioni ◽  
Humberto J. Vergara ◽  
Emmanouil N. Anagnostou ◽  
Jonathan J. Gourley ◽  
Yang Hong ◽  
...  

Abstract This study uses a stochastic ensemble-based representation of satellite rainfall error to predict the propagation in flood simulation of three quasi-global-scale satellite rainfall products across a range of basin scales. The study is conducted on the Tar-Pamlico River basin in the southeastern United States based on 2 years of data (2004 and 2006). The NWS Multisensor Precipitation Estimator (MPE) dataset is used as the reference for evaluating three satellite rainfall products: the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) real-time 3B42 product (3B42RT), the Climate Prediction Center morphing technique (CMORPH), and the Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Imagery Using Artificial Neural Networks–Cloud Classification System (PERSIANN-CCS). Both ground-measured runoff and streamflow simulations, derived from the NWS Research Distributed Hydrologic Model forced with the MPE dataset, are used as benchmarks to evaluate ensemble streamflow simulations obtained by forcing the model with satellite rainfall corrected using stochastic error simulations from a two-dimensional satellite rainfall error model (SREM2D). The ability of the SREM2D ensemble error corrections to improve satellite rainfall-driven runoff simulations and to characterize the error variability of those simulations is evaluated. It is shown that by applying the SREM2D error ensemble to satellite rainfall, the simulated runoff ensemble is able to envelope both the reference runoff simulation and observed streamflow. The best (uncorrected) product is 3B42RT, but after applying SREM2D, CMORPH becomes the most accurate of the three products in the prediction of runoff variability. The impact of spatial resolution on the rainfall-to-runoff error propagation is also evaluated for a cascade of basin scales (500–5000 km2). Results show a doubling in the bias from rainfall to runoff at all basin scales. Significant dependency to catchment area is exhibited for the random error propagation component.


2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 1817-1836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yagmur Derin ◽  
Emmanouil Anagnostou ◽  
Alexis Berne ◽  
Marco Borga ◽  
Brice Boudevillain ◽  
...  

Abstract An extensive evaluation of nine global-scale high-resolution satellite-based rainfall (SBR) products is performed using a minimum of 6 years (within the period of 2000–13) of reference rainfall data derived from rain gauge networks in nine mountainous regions across the globe. The SBR products are compared to a recently released global reanalysis dataset from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). The study areas include the eastern Italian Alps, the Swiss Alps, the western Black Sea of Turkey, the French Cévennes, the Peruvian Andes, the Colombian Andes, the Himalayas over Nepal, the Blue Nile in East Africa, Taiwan, and the U.S. Rocky Mountains. Evaluation is performed at annual, monthly, and daily time scales and 0.25° spatial resolution. The SBR datasets are based on the following retrieval algorithms: Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA), the NOAA/Climate Prediction Center morphing technique (CMORPH), Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information Using Artificial Neural Networks (PERSIANN), and Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation (GSMaP). SBR products are categorized into those that include gauge adjustment versus unadjusted. Results show that performance of SBR is highly dependent on the rainfall variability. Many SBR products usually underestimate wet season and overestimate dry season precipitation. The performance of gauge adjustment to the SBR products varies by region and depends greatly on the representativeness of the rain gauge network.


2005 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tufa Dinku ◽  
Emmanouil N. Anagnostou

Abstract The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite carries a combination of active [precipitation radar (PR)] and multichannel passive microwave [the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI)] sensors, which advance our ability to estimate rainfall over land. Rain retrieval from the TRMM PR is associated with an unprecedented accuracy and resolution but is limited in terms of sampling because of the narrow PR swath width (215 km). TMI provides wider coverage (760 km), but its observations are associated with a more complex relationship to precipitation in comparison with PR (especially over land). The PR rain estimates are used here for calibrating an overland TMI rain algorithm. The algorithm consists of 1) multichannel-based rain screening and convective/stratiform (C/S) classification schemes, and 2) nonlinear (linear) regressions for the rain-rate retrieval of stratiform (convective) rain regimes. This study examines regional differences in the algorithm performance. Four geographic regions consisting of central Africa (AFC), the Amazon (AMZ), the U.S. southern Plains (USA), and the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna River basin (GBM) in south Asia are selected. Data from three summer months of 2000 and 2001 are used for calibration; validation is done using summer 2002 data. The current algorithm is also compared with the latest [version 6 (V6)] TRMM 2A12 product in terms of rain detection, and rain-rate retrieval error statistics on the basis of PR reference rainfall. The performance of the algorithm is different for the different regions. For instance, the reduction in random error (relative to 2A12 V6) is about 24%, 36%, 57%, and 165% for USA, AFC, AMZ, and GBM, respectively. However, significant difference between global (the four regions combined) and regional calibration is observed only for the GBM region.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (23) ◽  
pp. 2755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mojtaba Sadeghi ◽  
Ata Akbari Asanjan ◽  
Mohammad Faridzad ◽  
Vesta Afzali Gorooh ◽  
Phu Nguyen ◽  
...  

Providing reliable long-term global precipitation records at high spatial and temporal resolutions is crucial for climatological studies. Satellite-based precipitation estimations are a promising alternative to rain gauges for providing homogeneous precipitation information. Most satellite-based precipitation products suffer from short-term data records, which make them unsuitable for various climatological and hydrological applications. However, Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks-Climate Data Record (PERSIANN-CDR) provides more than 35 years of precipitation records at 0.25° × 0.25° spatial and daily temporal resolutions. The PERSIANN-CDR algorithm uses monthly Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) data, which has been recently updated to version 2.3, for reducing the biases in the output of the PERSIANN model. In this study, we constructed PERSIANN-CDR using the newest version of GPCP (V2.3). We compared the PERSIANN-CDR dataset that is constructed using GPCP V2.3 (from here on referred to as PERSIANN-CDR V2.3) with the PERSIANN-CDR constructed using GPCP V2.2 (from here on PERSIANN-CDR V2.2), at monthly and daily scales for the period from 2009 to 2013. First, we discuss the changes between PERSIANN-CDR V2.3 and V2.2 over the land and ocean. Second, we evaluate the improvements in PERSIANN-CDR V2.3 with respect to the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) unified gauge-based analysis, a gauged-based reference, and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM 3B42 V7), a commonly used satellite reference, at monthly and daily scales. The results show noticeable differences between PERSIANN-CDR V2.3 and V2.2 over oceans between 40° and 60° latitude in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Monthly and daily scale comparisons of the two bias-adjusted versions of PERSIANN-CDR with the above-mentioned references emphasize that PERSIANN-CDR V2.3 has improved mostly over the global land area, especially over the CONUS and Australia. The updated PERSIANN-CDR V2.3 data has replaced V2.2 data for the 2009–2013 period on CHRS data portal and NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Program.


2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (12) ◽  
pp. 2339-2358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anil Deo ◽  
S. Joseph Munchak ◽  
Kevin J. E. Walsh

AbstractThis study cross validates the radar reflectivity Z; the rainfall drop size distribution parameter (median volume diameter Do); and the rainfall rate R estimated from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite Precipitation Radar (PR), a combined PR and TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) algorithm (COM), and a C-band dual-polarized ground radar (GR) for TRMM overpasses during the passage of tropical cyclone (TC) and non-TC events over Darwin, Australia. Two overpass events during the passage of TC Carlos and 11 non-TC overpass events are used in this study, and the GR is taken as the reference. It is shown that the correspondence is dependent on the precipitation type whereby events with more (less) stratiform rainfall usually have a positive (negative) bias in the reflectivity and the rainfall rate, whereas in the Do the bias is generally positive but small (large). The COM reflectivity estimates are similar to the PR, but it has a smaller bias in the Do for most of the greater stratiform events. This suggests that combining the TMI with the PR adjusts the Do toward the “correct” direction if the GR is taken as the reference. Moreover, the association between the TRMM estimates and the GR for the two TC events, which are highly stratiform in nature, is similar to that observed for the highly stratiform non-TC events (there is no significant difference), but it differs considerably from that observed for the majority of the highly convective non-TC events.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 1123-1132
Author(s):  
Tatsuya Oda ◽  
Shigeru Wesugi

AbstractDuring the cold season, the cold protective products are often short during evacuation life after a natural disaster. If evacuees can make and wear simple cold protective gears by using materials obtainable on site, it will reduce the burden on the evacuees in emergent situation. Therefore, we investigated the structure constructed by folding newsprint paper, which can improve the heat retention effect and be applied to various body shapes. Focusing on the glide reflection structure repeating a smaller chamber, the basic size was determined by experiments with reference to the accordion shape, and the experimental results indicated that the heat retention effect was significantly greater than that of a mere air layer and those of ordinary fabrics. Next, it was found that the apex angle of structure had no significant difference in the heat retention effect. Then, the dimensions of the structure were determined to maintain the air layer under the pressure of the clothes by simulation of structural analyses. Finally, we made a temporary cold protective gear that can practically cover the trunk of the body and found that the heat retention effect was significantly higher than that of unprocessed newsprint and that of accordion shape.


2005 ◽  
Vol 128 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Muneer ◽  
S. Munawwar

Solar energy applications require readily available, site-oriented, and long-term solar data. However, the frequent unavailability of diffuse irradiation, in contrast to its need, has led to the evolution of various regression models to predict it from the more commonly available data. Estimating the diffuse component from global radiation is one such technique. The present work focuses on improvement in the accuracy of the models for predicting horizontal diffuse irradiation using hourly solar radiation database from nine sites across the globe. The influence of sunshine fraction, cloud cover, and air mass on estimation of diffuse radiation is investigated. Inclusion of these along with hourly clearness index, leads to the development of a series of models for each site. Estimated values of hourly diffuse radiation are compared with measured values in terms of error statistics and indicators like, R2, mean bias deviation, root mean square deviation, skewness, and kurtosis. A new method called “the accuracy score system” is devised to assess the effect on accuracy with subsequent addition of each parameter and increase in complexity of equation. After an extensive evaluation procedure, extricate but adequate models are recommended as optimum for each of the nine sites. These models were found to be site dependent but the model types were fairly consistent for neighboring stations or locations with similar climates. Also, this study reveals a significant improvement from the conventional k-kt regression models to the presently proposed models.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 622
Author(s):  
Wan-Ru Huang ◽  
Pin-Yi Liu ◽  
Ya-Hui Chang ◽  
Cheng-An Lee

This study assesses the performance of satellite precipitation products (SPPs) from the latest version, V06B, Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for Global Precipitation Mission (IMERG) Level-3 (including early, late, and final runs), in depicting the characteristics of typhoon season (July to October) rainfall over Taiwan within the period of 2000–2018. The early and late runs are near-real-time SPPs, while final run is post-real-time SPP adjusted by monthly rain gauge data. The latency of early, late, and final runs is approximately 4 h, 14 h, and 3.5 months, respectively, after the observation. Analyses focus on the seasonal mean, daily variation, and interannual variation of typhoon-related (TC) and non-typhoon-related (non-TC) rainfall. Using local rain-gauge observations as a reference for evaluation, our results show that all IMERG products capture the spatio-temporal variations of TC rainfall better than those of non-TC rainfall. Among SPPs, the final run performs better than the late run, which is slightly better than the early run for most of the features assessed for both TC and non-TC rainfall. Despite these differences, all IMERG products outperform the frequently used Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission 3B42 v7 (TRMM7) for the illustration of the spatio-temporal characteristics of TC rainfall in Taiwan. In contrast, for the non-TC rainfall, the final run performs notably better relative to TRMM7, while the early and late runs showed only slight improvement. These findings highlight the advantages and disadvantages of using IMERG products for studying or monitoring typhoon season rainfall in Taiwan.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullatif Alyaqout ◽  
T. Edwin Chow ◽  
Alexander Savelyev

Abstract The primary objectives of this study are to 1) assess the quality of each volunteered geographic information (VGI) data modality (text, pictures, and videos), and 2) evaluate the quality of multiple VGI data sources, especially the multimedia that include pictures and videos, against synthesized water depth (WD) derived from remote sensing (RS) and authoritative data (e.g. stream gauges and depth grids). The availability of VGI, such as social media and crowdsourced data, empowered the researchers to monitor and model floods in near-real-time by integrating multi-sourced data available. Nevertheless, the quality of VGI sources and its reliability for flood monitoring (e.g. WD) is not well understood and validated by empirical data. Moreover, existing literature focuses mostly on text messages but not the multimedia nature of VGI. Therefore, this study measures the differences in synthesized WD from VGI modalities in terms of (1) spatial and (2) temporal variations, (3) against WD derived from RS, and (4) against authoritative data including (a) stream gauges and (b) depth grids. The results of the study show that there are significant differences in terms of spatial and temporal distribution of VGI modalities. Regarding VGI and RS comparison, the results show that there is a significant difference in WD between VGI and RS. In terms of VGI and authoritative data comparison, the analysis revealed that there is no significant difference in WD between VGI and stream gauges, while there is a significant difference between the depth grids and VGI.


2004 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Gomes Ferreira ◽  
André Luís dos Santos Machado ◽  
Ilana Rosental Zalmon

Heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) concentrations were studied in Perna perna from three beaches (Barra do Furado, Buena and Ponta do Retiro) on the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro State by ICP-AES. The average concentration was 0.3 ± 0.04 (Cd); 1.9 ± 0.6 (Cr); 6.1 ± 0.7 (Cu); 1,130 ± 113 (Fe); 22 ± 3.2 (Mn); 9.3 ± 4.6 (Ni); 0.4 ± 0.2 (Pb); 44 ± 5.8 (Zn) µg.g-1 dry weight. There were no significant difference for almost all the studied metals in relation to sex. Although, significant spatial variations (p < 0.05) occurred for Cr, Pb and Ni with higher values for Barra do Furado. Temporal variations were significant (p < 0.05) at the three beaches, however, no trends of accumulation were observed. The metal concentrations were similar to areas under low pollution impact, except for Fe, which was probably due to the local substrates enriched in iron oxides.


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