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The Evolution of the Goddard Profiling Algorithm to a Fully Parametric Scheme

Christian D. Kummerow * Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado

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David L. Randel * Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado

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Mark Kulie University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin

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Nai-Yu Wang I.M. Systems Group, and NOAA/NESDIS, College Park, Maryland

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Ralph Ferraro NOAA/NESDIS, College Park, Maryland

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S. Joseph Munchak Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, Maryland

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Veljko Petkovic * Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado

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Print Publication:
01 Dec 2015
Collections:
Precipitation Retrieval Algorithms for GPM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-15-0039.1
Page(s):
2265–2280
Restricted access

Abstract

The Goddard profiling algorithm has evolved from a pseudoparametric algorithm used in the current TRMM operational product (GPROF 2010) to a fully parametric approach used operationally in the GPM era (GPROF 2014). The fully parametric approach uses a Bayesian inversion for all surface types. The algorithm thus abandons rainfall screening procedures and instead uses the full brightness temperature vector to obtain the most likely precipitation state. This paper offers a complete description of the GPROF 2010 and GPROF 2014 algorithms and assesses the sensitivity of the algorithm to assumptions related to channel uncertainty as well as ancillary data. Uncertainties in precipitation are generally less than 1%–2% for realistic assumptions in channel uncertainties. Consistency among different radiometers is extremely good over oceans. Consistency over land is also good if the diurnal cycle is accounted for by sampling GMI product only at the time of day that different sensors operate. While accounting for only a modest amount of the total precipitation, snow-covered surfaces exhibit differences of up to 25% between sensors traceable to the availability of high-frequency (166 and 183 GHz) channels. In general, comparisons against early versions of GPM’s Ku-band radar precipitation estimates are fairly consistent but absolute differences will be more carefully evaluated once GPROF 2014 is upgraded to use the full GPM-combined radar–radiometer product for its a priori database. The combined algorithm represents a physically constructed database that is consistent with both the GPM radars and the GMI observations, and thus it is the ideal basis for a Bayesian approach that can be extended to an arbitrary passive microwave sensor.

Corresponding author address: Christian D. Kummerow, Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, 200 West Lake Street, 1371 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1371. E-mail: kummerow@atmos.colostate.edu

This article is included in the Precipitation Retrieval Algorithms for GPM special collection.

Abstract

The Goddard profiling algorithm has evolved from a pseudoparametric algorithm used in the current TRMM operational product (GPROF 2010) to a fully parametric approach used operationally in the GPM era (GPROF 2014). The fully parametric approach uses a Bayesian inversion for all surface types. The algorithm thus abandons rainfall screening procedures and instead uses the full brightness temperature vector to obtain the most likely precipitation state. This paper offers a complete description of the GPROF 2010 and GPROF 2014 algorithms and assesses the sensitivity of the algorithm to assumptions related to channel uncertainty as well as ancillary data. Uncertainties in precipitation are generally less than 1%–2% for realistic assumptions in channel uncertainties. Consistency among different radiometers is extremely good over oceans. Consistency over land is also good if the diurnal cycle is accounted for by sampling GMI product only at the time of day that different sensors operate. While accounting for only a modest amount of the total precipitation, snow-covered surfaces exhibit differences of up to 25% between sensors traceable to the availability of high-frequency (166 and 183 GHz) channels. In general, comparisons against early versions of GPM’s Ku-band radar precipitation estimates are fairly consistent but absolute differences will be more carefully evaluated once GPROF 2014 is upgraded to use the full GPM-combined radar–radiometer product for its a priori database. The combined algorithm represents a physically constructed database that is consistent with both the GPM radars and the GMI observations, and thus it is the ideal basis for a Bayesian approach that can be extended to an arbitrary passive microwave sensor.

Corresponding author address: Christian D. Kummerow, Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, 200 West Lake Street, 1371 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1371. E-mail: kummerow@atmos.colostate.edu

This article is included in the Precipitation Retrieval Algorithms for GPM special collection.

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