Exploring the potential of utilizing high resolution X-band radar for urban rainfall estimation
- 1State Key Laboratory of Hydro - Science and Engineering, Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- 2Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma
- 3NOAA/OAR/National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma
- 4Department of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
- 1State Key Laboratory of Hydro - Science and Engineering, Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- 2Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma
- 3NOAA/OAR/National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma
- 4Department of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
Abstract. X-band-radar-based quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) system is increasingly gaining interest thanks to its strength in providing high spatial resolution rainfall information for urban hydrological applications. However, prior to such applications, a variety of errors associated with X-band radars are mandatory to be corrected. In general, X-band radar QPE systems are affected by two types of errors: 1) common errors (e.g. mis-calibration, beam blockage, attenuation, non-precipitation clutter, variations in the raindrop size distribution) and 2) “wind drift” errors resulting from non-vertical falling of raindrops. In this study, we first assess the impacts of different corrections of common error using a dataset consisting of one-year reflectivity observations collected at an X-band radar site and a distrometer along with rainfall observations in Beijing urban area. The common error corrections demonstrate promising improvements in the rainfall estimates, even though an underestimate of 24.6% by the radar QPE system in the total accumulated rainfall still exists as compared with gauge observations. The most significant improvement is realized by beam integration correction. The DSD-related corrections (i.e., convective–stratiform classification and local Z-R relationship) also lead to remarkable improvement and highlight the necessity of deriving the localized Z-R relationships for specific rainfall systems. The effectiveness of wind drift correction is then evaluated for a fast-moving case, whose results indicate both the total accumulation and the temporal characteristics of the rainfall estimates can be improved. In conclusion, considerable potential of X-band radar in high-resolution rainfall estimation can be realized by necessary error corrections.
Wen-Yu Yang et al.


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SC1: 'impression of this paper', Mixel Holoven, 15 Dec 2016
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AC4: 'Response', Wenyu Yang, 07 Apr 2017
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AC4: 'Response', Wenyu Yang, 07 Apr 2017
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RC1: 'Review', Anonymous Referee #1, 19 Dec 2016
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AC1: 'Response to Reviewer 1', Wenyu Yang, 07 Apr 2017
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AC1: 'Response to Reviewer 1', Wenyu Yang, 07 Apr 2017
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RC2: 'Review', Anonymous Referee #2, 12 Jan 2017
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AC2: 'Response to Reviewer 2', Wenyu Yang, 07 Apr 2017
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AC2: 'Response to Reviewer 2', Wenyu Yang, 07 Apr 2017
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RC3: 'Review', Anonymous Referee #3, 12 Jan 2017
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AC3: 'Response to Reviewer 3', Wenyu Yang, 07 Apr 2017
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AC3: 'Response to Reviewer 3', Wenyu Yang, 07 Apr 2017


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SC1: 'impression of this paper', Mixel Holoven, 15 Dec 2016
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AC4: 'Response', Wenyu Yang, 07 Apr 2017
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AC4: 'Response', Wenyu Yang, 07 Apr 2017
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RC1: 'Review', Anonymous Referee #1, 19 Dec 2016
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AC1: 'Response to Reviewer 1', Wenyu Yang, 07 Apr 2017
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AC1: 'Response to Reviewer 1', Wenyu Yang, 07 Apr 2017
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RC2: 'Review', Anonymous Referee #2, 12 Jan 2017
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AC2: 'Response to Reviewer 2', Wenyu Yang, 07 Apr 2017
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AC2: 'Response to Reviewer 2', Wenyu Yang, 07 Apr 2017
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RC3: 'Review', Anonymous Referee #3, 12 Jan 2017
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AC3: 'Response to Reviewer 3', Wenyu Yang, 07 Apr 2017
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AC3: 'Response to Reviewer 3', Wenyu Yang, 07 Apr 2017
Wen-Yu Yang et al.
Wen-Yu Yang et al.
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