Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Comparison of Single- and Dual-Polarization–Based Rainfall Estimates Using NEXRAD Data for the NASA Iowa Flood Studies Project

Bong-Chul Seo IIHR–Hydroscience and Engineering, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa

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Brenda Dolan Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado

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Witold F. Krajewski IIHR–Hydroscience and Engineering, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa

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Steven A. Rutledge Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado

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Walter Petersen Wallops Flight Facility, NASA GSFC, Wallops, Virginia

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Print Publication:
01 Aug 2015
Collections:
IFloodS 2013: A Field Campaign to Support the NASA-JAXA Global Precipitation Measurement Mission
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JHM-D-14-0169.1
Page(s):
1658–1675
Restricted access

Abstract

This study compares and evaluates single-polarization (SP)- and dual-polarization (DP)-based radar-rainfall (RR) estimates using NEXRAD data acquired during Iowa Flood Studies (IFloodS), a NASA GPM ground validation field campaign carried out in May–June 2013. The objective of this study is to understand the potential benefit of the DP quantitative precipitation estimation, which selects different rain-rate estimators according to radar-identified precipitation types, and to evaluate RR estimates generated by the recent research SP and DP algorithms. The Iowa Flood Center SP (IFC-SP) and Colorado State University DP (CSU-DP) products are analyzed and assessed using two high-density, high-quality rain gauge networks as ground reference. The CSU-DP algorithm shows superior performance to the IFC-SP algorithm, especially for heavy convective rains. We verify that dynamic changes in the proportion of heavy rain during the convective period are associated with the improved performance of CSU-DP rainfall estimates. For a lighter rain case, the IFC-SP and CSU-DP products are not significantly different in statistical metrics and visual agreement with the rain gauge data. This is because both algorithms use the identical NEXRAD reflectivity–rain rate (Z–R) relation that might lead to substantial underestimation for the presented case.

Corresponding author address: Bong-Chul Seo, IIHR–Hydroscience and Engineering, The University of Iowa, 100 C. Maxwell Stanley Hydraulics Laboratory, Iowa City, IA 52242. E-mail: bongchul-seo@uiowa.edu

Abstract

This study compares and evaluates single-polarization (SP)- and dual-polarization (DP)-based radar-rainfall (RR) estimates using NEXRAD data acquired during Iowa Flood Studies (IFloodS), a NASA GPM ground validation field campaign carried out in May–June 2013. The objective of this study is to understand the potential benefit of the DP quantitative precipitation estimation, which selects different rain-rate estimators according to radar-identified precipitation types, and to evaluate RR estimates generated by the recent research SP and DP algorithms. The Iowa Flood Center SP (IFC-SP) and Colorado State University DP (CSU-DP) products are analyzed and assessed using two high-density, high-quality rain gauge networks as ground reference. The CSU-DP algorithm shows superior performance to the IFC-SP algorithm, especially for heavy convective rains. We verify that dynamic changes in the proportion of heavy rain during the convective period are associated with the improved performance of CSU-DP rainfall estimates. For a lighter rain case, the IFC-SP and CSU-DP products are not significantly different in statistical metrics and visual agreement with the rain gauge data. This is because both algorithms use the identical NEXRAD reflectivity–rain rate (Z–R) relation that might lead to substantial underestimation for the presented case.

Corresponding author address: Bong-Chul Seo, IIHR–Hydroscience and Engineering, The University of Iowa, 100 C. Maxwell Stanley Hydraulics Laboratory, Iowa City, IA 52242. E-mail: bongchul-seo@uiowa.edu
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