A Regression-Free Rainfall Estimation Algorithm for Dual-Polarization Radars

• Published in: Journal of atmospheric and oceanic technology Vol. 35; no. 8; pp. 1701 - 1721
• Main Authors: Pei, Bin, Testik, Firat Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston American Meteorological Society 01.08.2018
• Subjects: Accuracy; Algorithms; Atmospheric precipitations; Computer simulation; Convective clouds; Cost function; Dual polarization radar; Forecasting; Mathematical analysis; Mountains; Noise; Noise measurement; Polarization; Precipitation; Radar; Radar measurement; Radar rainfall; Radar rainfall estimation; Rain; Rain gauges; Rainfall; Rainfall estimation; Rainfall measurement; Rainfall simulators; Reflectance; Weather forecasting
• ISSN: 0739-0572; 1520-0426
• DOI: 10.1175/JTECH-D-17-0201.1

In this study a new radar rainfall estimation algorithm—rainfall estimation using simulated raindrop size distributions (RESID)—was developed. This algorithm development was based upon the recent finding that measured and simulated raindrop size distributions (DSDs) with matching triplets of dual-polarization radar observables (i.e., horizontal reflectivity, differential reflectivity, and specific differential phase) produce similar rain rates. The RESID algorithm utilizes a large database of simulated gamma DSDs, theoretical rain rates calculated from the simulated DSDs, the corresponding dual-polarization radar observables, and a set of cost functions. The cost functions were developed using both the measured and simulated dual-polarization radar observables. For a given triplet of measured radar observables, RESID chooses a suitable cost function from the set and then identifies nine of the simulated DSDs from the database that minimize the value of the chosen cost function. The rain rate associated with the given radar observable triplet is estimated by averaging the calculated theoretical rain rates for the identified simulated DSDs. This algorithm is designed to reduce the effects of radar measurement noise on rain-rate retrievals and is not subject to the regression uncertainty introduced in the conventional development of the rain-rate estimators. The rainfall estimation capability of our new algorithm was demonstrated by comparing its performance with two benchmark algorithms through the use of rain gauge measurements from the Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E) and the Olympic Mountains Experiment (OLYMPEx). This comparison showed favorable performance of the new algorithm for the rainfall events observed during the field campaigns.