Passive Microwave Rainfall Error Analysis Using High-Resolution X-Band Dual-Polarization Radar Observations in Complex Terrain

摘要: Difficulties in the representation of rainfall variability using ground-based sensors over mountainous areas necessitate use high-resolution satellite precipitation data sets from combined passive microwave (PMW) and geostationary infrared observations. The accuracy these depends greatly on uncertainty characteristics PMW sensor retrievals sampling frequency. In this paper, we evaluate retrieval error different terrain high temporal spatial resolution radar (GR) reference two field experiments: one mid-Atlantic East Coast United States second Northeastern Italian Alps. We extracted matchups PMW/GR based a matching methodology that identifies GR volume scans coincident with overpasses, scales parameters to products’ nominal resolution. Different algorithms are evaluated for four sensors. analysis shows varying across retrievals. Moreover, magnitude-dependent systematic error, going overestimation or weak underestimation light mainly heavier precipitation, covariation ground reference. Detection capabilities all increase markedly an increasing rate convective occurrence because more pronounced ice-scattering signal associated deeper convection rain rates.