Assessment of Satellite and Radar Quantitative Precipitation Estimates for Real Time Monitoring of Meteorological Extremes Over the Southeast of the Iberian Peninsula

Orographic Precipitation Extremes: An Application of LUME (Linear Upslope Model Extension) over the Alps and Apennines in Italy

Critical hydrometeorological events are generally triggered by heavy precipitation. In complex terrain, precipitation may be perturbed by the upslope raising of the incoming humid airflow, causing in some cases extreme rainfall. In this work, the application of LUME—Linear Upslope Model Extension—to a group of extreme events that occurred across mountainous areas of the Central Alps and Apennines in Italy is presented. Based on the previous version, the model has been “extended” in some aspects, proposing a methodology for physically estimating the time-delay coefficients as a function of precipitation efficiency. The outcomes of LUME are encouraging for the cases studied, revealing the intensification of precipitation due to the orographic effect. A comparison between the reference rain gauge data and the results of the simulations showed good agreement. Since extreme precipitation is expected to increase due to climate change, especially across the Mediterranean region, LUME represents an effective tool to investigate more closely how these extreme phenomena originate and evolve in mountainous areas that are subject to potential hydrometeorological risks.

A framework for developing a spatial high-resolution daily precipitation dataset over a data-sparse region

This paper outlines a framework in order to provide a reliable and up-to date local precipitation dataset over Sistan and Baluchestan province, one of the poorly rain gauged areas in Iran. Initially, the accuracy of GPCC data, as the reference dataset, was evaluated. Next, the performance of eight gridded precipitation products (namely, CHIRPS, CMORPH-RAW, ERA5, ERA-Interim, GPM-IMERG, GSMaP-MVK, PERSIANN and TRMM3B42) were compared based on the GPCC observations during 1982-2016 over the study area. The evaluation was done by using eight commonly used statistical and categorical metrics. Then, among the products, the most suitable ones on the basis of their better performance and least time delay in providing data, were utilized as the constituent members of the proposed hybrid dataset. Using several statistical/machine learning approaches (namely, NSGA II, ETROPY and TOPSIS), daily weights of the chosen datasets were estimated, while the correlation coefficient and the estimation error of the data were maximized and minimized, respectively. Finally, the efficiency of the proposed hybrid precipitation dataset was investigated. Results indicate that the developed hybrid dataset (2014-present), using the estimates of the chosen ensemble members (GPM-IMERG, GSMaP-MVK and PERSIANN) and their respective weighting coefficients, provides accurate local daily precipitation data with a spatial resolution of 0.25°, representing the minimum time delay, compared to the other available datasets.

Geostatistical Based Models for the Spatial Adjustment of Radar Rainfall Data in Typhoon Events at a High-Elevation River Watershed

Geographical constraints limit the number and placement of gauges, especially in mountainous regions, so that rainfall values over the ungauged regions are generally estimated through spatial interpolation. However, spatial interpolation easily misses the representation of the overall rainfall distribution due to undersampling if the number of stations is insufficient. In this study, two algorithms based on the multivariate regression-kriging (RK) and merging spatial interpolation techniques were developed to adjust rain fields from unreliable radar estimates using gauge observations as target values for the high-elevation Chenyulan River watershed in Taiwan. The developed geostatistical models were applied to the events of five moderate to high magnitude typhoons, namely Kalmaegi, Morakot, Fungwong, Sinlaku, and Fanapi, that struck Taiwan in the past 12 years, such that the QPESUMS’ (quantitative precipitation estimation and segregation using multiple sensors) radar rainfall data could be reasonably corrected with accuracy, especially when the sampling conditions were inadequate. The interpolated rainfall values by the RK and merging techniques were cross validated with the gauge measurements and compared to the interpolated results from the ordinary kriging (OK) method. The comparisons and performance evaluations were carried out and analyzed from three different aspects (error analysis, hyetographs, and data scattering plots along the 45-degree reference line). Based on the results, it was clearly shown that both of the RK and merging methods could effectively produce reliable rainfall data covering the study watershed. Both approaches could improve the event rainfall values, with the root-mean-square error (RMSE) reduced by up to roughly 30% to 40% at locations inside the watershed. The averaged coefficient of efficiency (CE) from the adjusted rainfall data could also be improved to the level of 0.84 or above. It was concluded that the original QPESUMS rainfall data through the process of RK or merging spatial interpolations could be corrected with better accuracy for most stations tested. According to the error analysis, relatively, the RK procedure, when applied to the five typhoon events, consistently made better adjustments on the original radar rainfall data than the merging method did for fitting to the gauge data. In addition, the RK and merging methods were demonstrated to outperform the univariate OK method for correcting the radar data, especially for the locations with the issues of having inadequate numbers of gauge stations around them or distant from each other.

Bathymetry Time Series Using High Spatial Resolution Satellite Images

The use of the new generation of remote sensors, such as echo sounders and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers with differential correction installed in a drone, allows the acquisition of high-precision data in areas of shallow water, as in the case of the channel of the Encañizadas in the Mar Menor lagoon. This high precision information is the first step to develop the methodology to monitor the bathymetry of the Mar Menor channels. The use of high spatial resolution satellite images is the solution for monitoring many hydrological changes and it is the basis of the three-dimensional (3D) numerical models used to study transport over time, environmental variability, and water ecosystem complexity.

Evaluation of Precipitation Estimates CMORPH-CRT on Regions of Mexico with Different Climates

Satellite-based precipitation (SBP) products with global coverage have the potential to overcome the lack of information in places where there are no rain gauges to perform hydrological analyses; however, it is necessary to evaluate the reliability of the SBP products. In this study, we evaluated the performance of the Climate Prediction Center morphing technique with corrected bias (CMORPH-CRT) product in 14 sites in Mexico. The evaluation was carried out using two approaches: (1) using categorical metrics that include indicators of probability of detection (POD), false alarm rate (FAR), critical success index (CSI), and frequency bias index (FBI); and (2) through statistical indicators such as the mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), relative bias (RB), and correlation coefficient (CC). The analysis was carried out with two levels of temporal aggregation: 30 min and daily. The results indicate that the CMORPH-CRT product overestimates the number of precipitation events in most cases since FBI values greater than 1 in 78.6% of analyzed stations were obtained. Also, we obtained CC values in the range of 0.018 to 0.625, which implied weak to moderate correlations, and found that in all stations, the CMORPH-CRT product overestimates the precipitation (RB > 0).

Editorial for Special Issue “Remote Sensing of Precipitation”

This Special Issue hosts papers on all aspects of remote sensing of precipitation, including applications that embrace the use of remote-sensing techniques of precipitation in tackling issues, such as precipitation estimations and retrievals, along with their methodologies and corresponding error assessment; precipitation modelling including validation, instrument comparison, and calibration; understanding of cloud and precipitation microphysical properties; precipitation downscaling; precipitation droplet size distribution; assimilation of remotely sensed precipitation into numerical weather prediction models; and measurement of precipitable water vapor.