An evaluation of NEXRAD precipitation estimates in complex terrain

View/ Open
Issue Date
1999-08-27Author
Young, Bryan
Nelson, Brian R.
Bradley, A. Allen
Smith, James A.
Peters-Lidard, Christa D.
Kruger, Anton
Baeck, Mary Lynn
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
Type
Article
Article Version
Scholarly/refereed, publisher version
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) precipitation estimates are used for hydrological, meteorological, and climatological studies at a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. The utility of radar-based precipitation estimates in such applications hinges on an understanding of the sources and magnitude of estimation error. This study examines precipitation estimation in the complex mountainous terrain of the northern Appalachian Mountains. Hourly digital precipitation (HDP) products for two WSR-88D radars in New York state are evaluated for a 2-year period. This analysis includes evaluation of range dependence and spatial distribution of estimates, radar intercomparisons for the overlap region, and radar-gage comparisons. The results indicate that there are unique challenges for radar-rainfall estimation in mountainous terrain. Beam blockage is a serious problem that is not corrected by existing NEXRAD algorithms. Underestimation and nondetection of precipitation are also significant concerns. Improved algorithms are needed for merging estimates from multiple radars with spatially variable biases.
Description
This is the published version. Copyright 1999 American Geophysical Union
Collections
Citation
Young, C. Bryan, Brian R. Nelson, A. Allen Bradley, James A. Smith, Christa D. Peters-Lidard, Anton Kruger, and Mary Lynn Baeck. "An Evaluation of NEXRAD Precipitation Estimates in Complex Terrain." J. Geophys. Res. Journal of Geophysical Research 104.D16 (1999): 19691. http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/1999JD900123
Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.
We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.