scholarly journals Validation of satellite OPEMW precipitation product with ground-based weather radar and rain gauge networks

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 3181-3196 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Cimini ◽  
F. Romano ◽  
E. Ricciardelli ◽  
F. Di Paola ◽  
M. Viggiano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Winter Season ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Weather Radar ◽  
Temporal Analysis ◽  
Skill Score ◽  
Rain Gauge ◽  
Set Covering ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Rain Gauges ◽  
Weather Radars

Abstract. The Precipitation Estimation at Microwave Frequencies (PEMW) algorithm was developed at the Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis of the National Research Council of Italy (IMAA-CNR) for inferring surface rain intensity (sri) from satellite passive microwave observations in the range from 89 to 190 GHz. The operational version of PEMW (OPEMW) has been running continuously at IMAA-CNR for two years. The OPEMW sri estimates, together with other precipitation products, are used as input to an operational hydrological model for flood alert forecast. This paper presents the validation of OPEMW against simultaneous ground-based observations from a network of 20 weather radar systems and a network of more than 3000 rain gauges distributed over the Italian Peninsula and main islands. The validation effort uses a data set covering one year (July 2011–June 2012). The effort evaluates dichotomous and continuous scores for the assessment of rain detection and quantitative estimate, respectively, investigating both spatial and temporal features. The analysis demonstrates 98% accuracy in correctly identifying rainy and non-rainy areas; it also quantifies the increased ability (with respect to random chance) to detect rainy and non-rainy areas (0.42–0.45 Heidke skill score) or rainy areas only (0.27–0.29 equitable threat score). Performances are better than average during summer, fall, and spring, while worse than average in the winter season. The spatial–temporal analysis does not show seasonal dependence except over the Alps and northern Apennines during winter. A binned analysis in the 0–15 mm h−1 range suggests that OPEMW tends to slightly overestimate sri values below 6–7 mm h−1 and underestimate sri above those values. With respect to rain gauges (weather radars), the correlation coefficient is larger than 0.8 (0.9). The monthly mean difference and standard deviation remain within ±1 and 2 mm h−1 with respect to rain gauges (respectively −2–0 and 4 mm h−1 with respect to weather radars).

scholarly journals Validation of satellite OPEMW precipitation product with ground-based weather radar and rain gauge networks

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 4279-4312 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Cimini ◽  
F. Romano ◽  
E. Ricciardelli ◽  
F. Di Paola ◽  
M. Viggiano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Residual Effect ◽  
Temporal Analysis ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
Absolute Difference ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Rain Gauges ◽  
Weather Radars

Abstract. The Precipitation Estimation at Microwave Frequencies (PEMW) algorithm was developed at the Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis of the National Research Council of Italy (IMAA-CNR) for inferring surface rain intensity (sri) from satellite passive microwave observations in the range from 89 to 190 GHz. The operational version of PEMW (OPEMW) has been running continuously at IMAA-CNR for two years, producing sri estimates feeding an operational hydrological model for forecasting flood alerts. This paper presents the validation of OPEMW against simultaneous ground-based observations obtained by a network of 20 weather radars and a network of more than 3000 rain gauges distributed over the Italian peninsula and main islands. The validation effort uses a data set spanning a one-year period (July 2011–June 2012). The effort evaluates dichotomous and continuous scores for the assessment of rain detection and quantitative estimate, respectively, investigating both spatial and temporal features. The analysis demonstrates 98% accuracy in correctly identifying rainy and non-rainy areas, and it quantifies the increased ability (with respect to random chance) to detect rainy and non-rainy areas (0.42–0.45 Heidke skill score) or rainy areas only (0.27–0.29 equitable threat score). Performances are better than average during summer, fall, and spring, while worse than average in the winter season. The spatial-temporal analysis does not show seasonal dependence except for larger mean absolute difference over the Alps and northern Apennines during winter, attributable to residual effect of snow cover. A binned analysis in the 0–15 mm h−1 range suggests that OPEMW tends to slightly overestimate sri values below 6–7 mm h−1, and to underestimate sri above those values. Depending upon the ground reference (either rain gauges or weather radars), the mean difference is 0.8–2.8 mm h−1, with a standard deviation within 2.6–3.1 mm h−1 and correlation coefficient within 0.8–0.9. The monthly mean difference was shown to remain within ±1 mm h−1 with respect to rain gauges and within −2 mm h−1 with respect to weather radars, with 2–4 mm h−1 standard deviation.

scholarly journals Statistical and neural classifiers in estimating rain rate from weather radar measurements

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 111-115
Author(s):  
C. I. Christodoulou ◽  
S. C. Michaelides
Keyword(s):  
Electromagnetic Radiation ◽  
Rain Rate ◽  
Weather Radar ◽  
Radar Data ◽  
Rain Gauge ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Rain Gauges ◽  
Weather Radars ◽  
Radar Measurements

Abstract. Weather radars are used to measure the electromagnetic radiation backscattered by cloud raindrops. Clouds that backscatter more electromagnetic radiation consist of larger droplets of rain and therefore they produce more rain. The idea is to estimate rain rate by using weather radar as an alternative to rain-gauges measuring rainfall on the ground. In an experiment during two days in June and August 1997 over the Italian-Swiss Alps, data from weather radar and surrounding rain-gauges were collected at the same time. The statistical KNN and the neural SOM classifiers were implemented for the classification task using the radar data as input and the rain-gauge measurements as output. The proposed system managed to identify matching pattern waveforms and the rainfall rate on the ground was estimated based on the radar reflectivities with a satisfactory error rate, outperforming the traditional Z/R relationship. It is anticipated that more data, representing a variety of possible meteorological conditions, will lead to improved results. The results in this work show that an estimation of rain rate based on weather radar measurements treated with statistical and neural classifiers is possible.

scholarly journals Uncertainties in rainfall retrievals from ground-based weather radar: overview, case study, and simulation experiment

2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 2385-2436
Author(s):  
R. Uijlenhoet ◽  
S. H. van der Wielen ◽  
A. Berne
Keyword(s):  
Simulation Experiment ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Weather Radar ◽  
Rain Gauge ◽  
Radar Rainfall ◽  
Rain Gauges ◽  
Weather Radars ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Rainfall Retrieval

Abstract. Because rainfall constitutes the main source of water for the terrestrial hydrological processes, accurate and reliable measurement and prediction of its spatial and temporal distribution over a wide range of scales is an important goal for hydrology. We investigate the potential of ground-based weather radar to provide such measurements through a detailed analysis of the associated observation uncertainties. First, a historical perspective on measuring the space-time distribution of rainfall, from the rain gauge to the radar era, is presented. Subsequently, we provide an overview of the various errors and uncertainties affecting radar rainfall retrievals. As an example, we present a case study of the relation between measurements from an operational C-band weather radar and a network of tipping bucket rain gauges as a function of range. Finally, a recently developed stochastic model of range profiles of rainfall microstructure is employed in a simulation experiment designed to investigate the rainfall retrieval uncertainties associated with weather radars operating in different widely used frequency bands.

scholarly journals Time-dependent <i>Z-R</i> relationships for estimating rainfall fields from radar measurements

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Alfieri ◽  
P. Claps ◽  
F. Laio
Keyword(s):  
Time Estimation ◽  
Rain Gauge ◽  
Rainfall Rate ◽  
Time Step ◽  
Radar Rainfall ◽  
Rain Gauges ◽  
Weather Radars ◽  
The North ◽  
Real Time Estimation ◽  
Power Law Equation

Abstract. The operational use of weather radars has become a widespread and useful tool for estimating rainfall fields. The radar-gauge adjustment is a commonly adopted technique which allows one to reduce bias and dispersion between radar rainfall estimates and the corresponding ground measurements provided by rain gauges. This paper investigates a new methodology for estimating radar-based rainfall fields by recalibrating at each time step the reflectivity-rainfall rate (Z-R) relationship on the basis of ground measurements provided by a rain gauge network. The power-law equation for converting reflectivity measurements into rainfall rates is readjusted at each time step, by calibrating its parameters using hourly Z-R pairs collected in the proximity of the considered time step. Calibration windows with duration between 1 and 24 h are used for estimating the parameters of the Z-R relationship. A case study pertaining to 19 rainfall events occurred in the north-western Italy is considered, in an area located within 25 km from the radar site, with available measurements of rainfall rate at the ground and radar reflectivity aloft. Results obtained with the proposed method are compared to those of three other literature methods. Applications are described for a posteriori evaluation of rainfall fields and for real-time estimation. Results suggest that the use of a calibration window of 2–5 h yields the best performances, with improvements that reach the 28% of the standard error obtained by using the most accurate fixed (climatological) Z-R relationship.

scholarly journals Precipitation Analysis over the French Alps Using a Variational Approach and Study of Potential Added Value of Ground-Based Radar Observations

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 1425-1451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camille Birman ◽  
Fatima Karbou ◽  
Jean-François Mahfouf ◽  
Matthieu Lafaysse ◽  
Yves Durand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Snow Depth ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Rain Gauge ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Time Step ◽  
Rain Gauges ◽  
Weather Radars ◽  
Precipitation Estimates

Abstract A one-dimensional variational data assimilation (1DVar) method to retrieve profiles of precipitation in mountainous terrain is described. The method combines observations from the French Alpine region rain gauges and precipitation estimates from weather radars with background information from short-range numerical weather prediction forecasts in an optimal way. The performance of this technique is evaluated using measurements of precipitation and of snow depth during two years (2012/13 and 2013/14). It is shown that the 1DVar model allows an effective assimilation of measurements of different types, including rain gauge and radar-derived precipitation. The use of radar-derived precipitation rates over mountains to force the numerical snowpack model Crocus significantly reduces the bias and standard deviation with respect to independent snow depth observations. The improvement is particularly significant for large rainfall or snowfall events, which are decisive for avalanche hazard forecasting. The use of radar-derived precipitation rates at an hourly time step improves the time series of precipitation analyses and has a positive impact on simulated snow depths.

scholarly journals Rainfall-runoff modeling using Doppler weather radar data for Adyar watershed, India

MAUSAM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-56
Author(s):  
S.JOSEPHINE VANAJA ◽  
B.V. MUDGAL ◽  
S.B. THAMPI
Keyword(s):  
Weather Radar ◽  
Radar Data ◽  
Rain Gauge ◽  
Hydrologic Model ◽  
Rainfall Data ◽  
Doppler Weather Radar ◽  
Rainfall Runoff ◽  
Cyclonic Storm ◽  
Rain Gauges ◽  
Runoff Modeling

Precipitation is a significant input for hydrologic models; so, it needs to be quantified precisely. The measurement with rain gauges gives the rainfall at a particular location, whereas the radar obtains instantaneous snapshots of electromagnetic backscatter from rain volumes that are then converted into rainfall via algorithms. It has been proved that the radar measurement of areal rainfall can outperform rain gauge network measurements, especially in remote areas where rain gauges are sparse, and remotely sensed satellite rainfall data are too inaccurate. The research focuses on a technique to improve rainfall-runoff modeling based on radar derived rainfall data for Adyar watershed, Chennai, India. A hydrologic model called ‘Hydrologic Engineering Center-Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS)’ is used for simulating rainfall-runoff processes. CARTOSAT 30 m DEM is used for watershed delineation using HEC-GeoHMS. The Adyar watershed is within 100 km radius circle from the Doppler Weather Radar station, hence it has been chosen as the study area. The cyclonic storm Jal event from 4-8 November, 2010 period is selected for the study. The data for this period are collected from the Statistical Department, and the Cyclone Detection Radar Centre, Chennai, India. The results show that the runoff is over predicted using calibrated Doppler radar data in comparison with the point rainfall from rain gauge stations.

Validation of PERSIANN Precipitation Product Using TAWN Rain Gauge Network Over Different Agro-climatic Zones in Tamil Nadu

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (september) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Venkadesh Samykannu ◽  
◽  
Pazhanivelan S ◽  
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Rain Gauge ◽  
Northeast Monsoon ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Climatic Zones ◽  
Rain Gauges ◽  
Precipitation Estimation ◽  
Cauvery Delta ◽  
Rain Gauge Network

Currently, several satellite-precipitation products were developed using multiple algorithms to estimate rainfall. This study carried out using Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks (PERSIANN) product over seven agro-climatic zones of Tamil Nadu during the northeast monsoon (NEM) season of October to December for 2015-2017 (three years) against 118 rain-gauges data of Tamil Nadu Agricultural Weather Network (TAWN). The performance compares aggregated seasonal scale of rainfall using continuous (CC, RMSE, and NRMSE) statistical approaches. It was observed that PERSIANN is accurate in the high-altitude hilly zone and the Cauvery delta zone. For 2015, 2016, and 2017, the correlation values were 0.77, 0.52, and 0.71, respectively. The highest RMSE value was measured for northeast zone (NEZ) during 2015 (222.17 mm), and the lowest was determined for 22.63 in the High-altitude hilly zone (HAHZ) during 2016 and NRMSE had less errors during all three seasons. The study concluded that the PERSIANN data set could be useful substitute for rain-gauge precipitation data.

scholarly journals Retrieval algorithm for rainfall mapping from microwave links in a cellular communication network

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 8191-8230 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Overeem ◽  
H. Leijnse ◽  
R. Uijlenhoet
Keyword(s):  
Communication Networks ◽  
Cellular Communication ◽  
Retrieval Algorithm ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Rain Gauges ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Weather Radars ◽  
Cellular Communication Network ◽  
Scripting Language ◽  
Areal Rainfall

Abstract. Microwave links in commercial cellular communication networks hold a promise for areal rainfall monitoring and could complement rainfall estimates from ground-based weather radars, rain gauges, and satellites. It has been shown that country-wide rainfall maps can be derived from the signal attenuations of microwave links in such a network. Here we give a detailed description of the employed rainfall retrieval algorithm and provide the corresponding code. Moreover, the code (in the scripting language "R") is made available including a data set of commercial microwave links. The purpose of this paper is to promote rainfall monitoring utilizing microwave links from cellular communication networks as an alternative or complementary means for global, continental-scale rainfall monitoring.

scholarly journals Precipitation observation using microwave backhaul links in the alpine and pre-alpine region of Southern Germany

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 741-776 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Chwala ◽  
A. Gmeiner ◽  
W. Qiu ◽  
S. Hipp ◽  
D. Nienaber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rain Gauge ◽  
Alpine Region ◽  
New Method ◽  
Small Data ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Southern Germany ◽  
Rain Gauges ◽  
Weather Radars ◽  
Data Loggers ◽  
Rain Rates

Abstract. Measuring rain rates over complex terrain is afflicted with large uncertainties because rain gauges are influenced by orography and weather radars are mostly not able to look into mountain valleys. We apply a new method to estimate near surface rain rates exploiting attenuation data from commercial microwave links in the alpine region of Southern Germany. Received signal level (RSL) data is recorded minutely with small data loggers at the towers and then sent to a database server via GSM. Due to the large RSL fluctuations in periods without rain, the determination of attenuation caused by precipitation is not straightforward. To be able to continuously process the RSL data from July 2010 to October 2010, we introduce a new method to detect wet and dry periods using spectral time series analysis. We show the performance and limitations of the method and analyse the derived rain rates compared to rain gauge and weather radar measurements. The resulting correlations differ for different links and reach values of R2 = 0.80 for the link-gauge comparison and R2 = 0.84 for the link-radar comparison.

scholarly journals Relationships between lightning and rainfall intensities during rainy events in Cyprus

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 87-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Michaelides ◽  
K. Savvidou ◽  
K. Nicolaides
Keyword(s):  
Rain Gauge ◽  
Rainfall Data ◽  
Time Lags ◽  
Spatial Relationships ◽  
Time And Space ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Rain Gauges ◽  
Hourly Rainfall ◽  
Temporal And Spatial ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract. The objective of this work is to study the relationship between the number of lightning recorded by a network of lightning detectors and the amount of rainfall recorded by the network of automatic rain gauges, during rainy events in Cyprus. This study aims at revealing possible temporal and spatial "relationships" between rainfall and lightning intensities. The data used are based on the available records of hourly rainfall data and the "associated" lightning data, with respect to both time and space. The search for temporal and spatial relationships between lightning and rainfall is made by considering various time-lags between lightning and rainfall, and by varying the area around the rain gauge which the associated lightning data set refers to. The methodology adopted in this paper is a statistical one and rainy events registered under the European Project "FLASH" are examined herein.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document